Abstract
ABSTRACT Most studies of the control of air breathing in bimodally respiring aquatic animals neglect the influence of depth of dive. However, changes in respiratory patterns with depth may be expected on a number of grounds. Increased hydrostatic pressure will alter gas tensions in the lungs or accessory respiratory organs and may therefore increase the rate and degree of oxygen uptake (Butler & Jones, 1982). Changes in buoyancy may affect swimming energetics (Wassersug & Feder, 1983) or induce a compensatory rise in the amount of gas held during the dive (Graham, Gee, Motta & Rubinoff, 1987). The increased energetic cost of surfacing associated with greater distance may increase oxygen demand (Pandian & Vivekanandan, 1976). Finally, theories of optimal foraging applied to breathing suggest that animals diving to greater depths should load more oxygen at each trip to the surface, stay submerged longer, and increase reliance on dissolved oxygen (Kramer, 1988). Empirical evidence for effects of water depth on air breathing in fish and tadpoles is briefly reviewed by Bevan & Kramer (1987).
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