Oxygen consumption of Amphiuma means during forced activity and recovery

1. 1. The rate of oxygen consumption of Amphiuma means, increased 3.5 fold during 30 min of forced activity, in a bi-phasic environment. There was no significant increase in cutaneous oxygen uptake, from the water, during activity or recovery after activity, whereas pulmonary oxygen uptake increased about 3.5 fold. A similar increase in oxygen uptake was observed for Amphiuma during forced activity in an aerial environment. 2. 2. Oxygen consumption wss greatest during activity and declined to within pre-exercise levels by 1 hr at most after cessation of activity (bi-phasic environment) and by 30 min in the aerial environment. 3. 3. The aerobic contribution to activity metabolism is estimated to be greater than 33% for Amphiuma. 4. 4. These data for oxygen consumption during activity and recovery, and the aerobic contribution to activity metabolism, are in marked contrast to previous studies of Amphiuma during and after activity. 5. 5. The aerobic metabolic rate of salamanders during forced activity is less than that of anuran amphibians of comparable mass, both in absolute units (ml O2 g-1 hr-1) and factorial units (.VO2,activity/.VO2,rest). © 1981.