THE INSENSITIVITY OF DIVING ANIMALS TO CO2

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Abstract
The respiration of land animals is sensitive to CO2 while the respiration of 2 diving animals, beaver and muskrat, is relatively insensitive. Breathing of the 2 divers was not much increased by the inhalation of 10% CO2. Blood pressure and the heart rate remained steady in the divers while they fluctuated in cats during CO2 inhalation. Blood flow through the muscles of cats was reduced by CO2. but not in the divers. The arrest of breathing reduces muscular blood flow more effectively in divers. CO2 cannot be the stimulus which is responsible since it does not reduce muscular flow in those animals. Judging from the ineffectiveness of CO2, as a stimulant in divers, it is fair to question whether CO2 is an important stimulant for quick adjustments in the internal respiration of land mammals.

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