Abstract
1. 1. The oxygen uptake of eels in air is about half of that in water. During the first hour of air exposure oxygen removal from the swimbladder may be almost equal to the oxygen uptake from the air. 2. 2. The eel receives 85–90 per cent of its oxygen uptake in water through the gills. In air about a third of the total oxygen uptake occurs via the gills. 3. 3. During air exposure eels keep the gill cavity inflated with air which is slowly depleted in oxygen and renewed at intervals. 4. 4. Eels develop pronounced bradycardia upon air exposure. 5. 5. After 20 hr in air at 15°C eels have accumulated a substantial oxygen debt and the concentration of H +-ions and lactic acid in their blood is elevated for about 1 hr after return of the animal to water. At 7°C these reactions are almost absent. 6. 6. In general the eel reacts upon air exposure as do air-breathing divers upon water immersion.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
