Short Communications: Non-Invasive Measurement of Respiratory Tidal Volume in Aquatic, Air-Breathing Animals

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In recent years, a method which allows breathing patterns to be fully quantified in aquatic, air-breathing species while free-ranging and undisturbed, has come into common use (Brett & Shelton, 1979; Glass, Boutilier & Heisler, 1983, 1985; Butler, Milsom & Woakes, 1984; Silver & Jackson, 1985; Milsom & Chan, 1986). Use of this method in our laboratory, however, has revealed several potential sources of error in the normal procedures used for calibrating this system for the measurement of tidal volume (VT). In the present study we have systematically studied these potential sources of error under a variety of conditions and describe a technique for eliminating these errors in routine measurements.