Gas exchange and habitat selection in the aquatic salamanders Necturus maculosus and Cryptobranchus alleganiensis

Abstract

The standard metabolic rate (SMR) and critical O(2) tension (P(c)) of water-breathing mudpuppies and hellbenders were determined at 20° C using open-system respirometry. Both species are metabolic O(2) regulators, although the P(c) of hellbenders (90 mmHg) is much higher than that of mudpuppies (40 mmHg). The SMR of the two species in water saturated with air was similar (19.5 and 20.0 μl O(2)/g·h for Cryptobranchus and Necturus, respectively) and not different from that of salamanders in general. Both species were able to survive for at least 5-11 days in severely hypoxic water (9-10 mmHg) by breathing air, indicating that the lungs are functional accessory respiratory structures.We conclude that hellbenders are restricted to relatively cool and flowing waters because of their limited gas exchange capabilities, particularly with regard to their limited aerobic scope for activity and slow recovery from exercise. Necturus maculosus is much more tolerant of hypoxia, but it is not known if they can inhabit areas were hypoxia is combined with hypercarbia.