Influence of Surrounding Medium on Metabolic Rates in Alpine Newts, Ichthyosaura alpestris, during Aquatic Phase

KRISTÍN, Peter and Lumír GVOŽDÍK. Influence of Surrounding Medium on Metabolic Rates in Alpine Newts, Ichthyosaura alpestris, during Aquatic Phase. Journal of Herpetology. 2016, vol. 50, No 1, p. 145-148. ISSN 0022-1511. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1670/15-038.

Basic information

• Original name: Influence of Surrounding Medium on Metabolic Rates in Alpine Newts, Ichthyosaura alpestris, during Aquatic Phase
• Authors: KRISTÍN, Peter (703 Slovakia, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Lumír GVOŽDÍK (203 Czech Republic).
• Edition: Journal of Herpetology, 2016, 0022-1511.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 10600 1.6 Biological sciences
• Country of publisher: United States of America
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 0.911
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14310/16:00093985
• Organization unit: Faculty of Science
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1670/15-038
• UT WoS: 000371617900023
• Keywords in English: SEASONAL ACCLIMATION; TERRESTRIAL; RESPIRATION
• Tags: AKR, rivok

Abstract

Measuring standard metabolic rates in newts remains a complicated task despite substantial methodological and technological advances in the field. We examined the influence of aquatic versus terrestrial conditions in respirometry chambers on measurements of respiratory gases and motor activity in Alpine Newts, Ichthyosaura alpestris, during their aquatic phase. Aquatic conditions during intermittent respirometry trials biased values of carbon dioxide production more than values of oxygen consumption, which caused marked differences in estimates of respiratory quotient. Placing newts in water increased their motor activity relative to terrestrial conditions during respirometry trials, which made obtaining representative estimates of standard metabolic rates complicated. We conclude that the absence of water, rather than aquatic conditions in respirometry chambers, produces more-accurate metabolic measurements in newts during their aquatic phase.