Effects of temperature and activity on aerobic and anaerobic metabolism and heart rate in the turtles Pseudemys scripta and Terrapene ornata

Abstract

1. 1. The aerobic metabolic scope for activity is 1·75 times greater in the active, aquatic, red-eared turtle, Pseudemys scripta, than in the more sluggish, terrestrial, ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata, at their common preferred body temperature of 30°C. 2. 2. Oxygen consumption increases eight- to thirtyfold during activity. 3. 3. Both heart rate and oxygen pulse rise with an increase in body temperature and with exercise. 4. 4. At 30°C glycolysis supplies 60–75 per cent of the energy available during a burst of activity. 5. 5. At 30°C total metabolic scope for activity is 1·14 times greater in P. scripta than in T. ornata.