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Journal of Experimental Biology 96,11-28 (1982)
Published by Company of Biologists 1982

Long-Term Submergence at 3°C of the Turtle, Chrysemys Picta Bellii, in Normoxic And Severely Hypoxic Water : I. Survival, Gas Exchange And Acid-Base Status

GORDON R. ULTSCH ¹ and DONALD C. JACKSON ²

¹ Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, U.S.A.; Department of Biology, University of Alabama, University, AL 35486, U.S.A.
² Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, U.S.A.

Survival and blood acid-base status were measured on freshwater turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii Gray) that were submerged at 3 °C in either aerated (high O₂) or N₂-equilibrated (low O₂) water. Results from catheterized turtles, without access to air under these conditions, and from non-catheterized turtles which were either apnoeic (in high O₂ and low O₂ water) or in high O₂ water with access to air, are compared.

Under the most adverse conditions (catheterized, submerged, low O₂), survival duration was 126±14 (X±S.E.) days, and 2 of the 10 turtles so treated were still alive after 177 days, although their condition was poor. Apnoeic, high O₂ turtles generally survived longer and were in better condition despite a skin fungus condition that selectively affected these animals. Six of ten non-catheterized high O₂ turtles were still alive after 189 days without breathing.

All apnoeic turtles developed an acidosis which, except for a transient hypercapnia in low O₂ turtles, was a metabolic acidosis attributable to elevated lactic acid. Acidosis was most severe in low O₂ turtles in which peak plasma lactates exceeded 200 mM. High O₂ turtles, as judged by higher blood P_O2 and lower lactate concentrations, were able to extract dissolved O₂ from the water and support a significant portion of their metabolic requirements by aerobic metabolism. Our data indicate that wintering turtles can remain alive for up to 6 months, even while totally anoxic and severely acidotic, but that the acid-base state and probably the recovery potential are significantly improved if dissolved O₂ is available for extrapulmonary uptake.

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