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Journal of Experimental Biology 107,169-180 (1983)
Published by Company of Biologists 1983

CO2 and H+ Excretion by Swimming Coho Salmon, Oncorhynchus Kisutch

GUIDO VAN DEN THILLART 1, DAVID RANDALL 2, and LIN HOA-REN 3

1 Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia Vancouver, B. C., Canada V6T 2A9; State University of Leiden, Gorlaeus Laboratoria, Department of Animal Physiology, Wassenaarseweg 76, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. Reprint requests to this address
2 Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia Vancouver, B. C., Canada V6T 2A9
3 Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia Vancouver, B. C., Canada V6T 2A9; Biology Department, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Peoples Republic of China

Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum), were swum at constant speed in a ‘Brett-type’ tunnel respirometer. Blood PO2, PCO2 and pH as well as total CO2 content and red blood cell pH were unchanged during swimming. The RE (respiratory exchange ratio) was slightly less than 0.7 when the fish was swimming in normal sea water, indicating that some CO2 retained by the fish. Lowering seawater bicarbonate concentration increased HCO3- transfer, presumably because of passive bicarbonate loss. A reduction in seawater pH from 7.95 to 7.1 sharply reduced both CO2 and hydrogen ion transfer, resulting in very low RE values of about 0.2. Hydrogen ion excretion was elevated during prolonged swimming following high speed swimming activity. It would appear that CO2 and hydrogen ion transfer by fish need not be matched and changing internal and external conditions can have a marked and separate effect on hydrogen ion and CO2 excretion and therefore on the RE value.

Key words: Carbon dioxide, acid-base regulation, swimming fish

Submitted on January 14, 1983
Accepted on April 13, 1983






© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1983