RESPIRATION OF FISHES WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON STANDARD OXYGEN CONSUMPTION: IV. INFLUENCE OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND OXYGEN

Abstract

Oxygen consumption was determined in relation to spontaneous activity and standard metabolism estimated by extrapolating the values to zero activity, Standard oxygen consumption was determined in relation to different partial pressures of carbon dioxide and oxygen for brook trout. Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill), at 10 °C, and carp, Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, at 25 °C. In general, at each partial pressure of oxygen applied, standard oxygen consumption did not change significantly over the range of partial pressures of carbon dioxide followed. The relation for brook trout operated on a level characteristic of the partial pressure of oxygen. Although the effect of different levels of oxygen was not established for carp at 25 °C, it is presumed that the relation operated also in that species in a similar way.Acclimation to the different levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen to be tested was examined and, ordinarily, found not to change significantly the standard rate of oxygen consumption.