Abstract
Pulmonary and nonpulmonary O2 uptake ( ) were measured on freshwater turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii) at 3, 10, 15, and 20 C, and these data were related to the physiological responses of turtles to submergence in aerated vs. anoxic water. Total increased with temperature with a progressive fall in Q10 from a peak of 8.5 between 3 and 10 C. The contribution of nonpulmonary exchange decreased with temperature from 21% of the total at 3 C to 5% at 20 C. Anaerobic metabolic rate, estimated from the rate of plasma lactate accumulation during anoxic submergence, increased with temperature, and again a high Q10 value (13.3) was found between 3 and 10 C. At each temperature, anoxic submergence caused a sharp fall in metabolic rate that was most pronounced at 3 C (2 is available.

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