Oxygen Uptake as an Indictor of Metabolic Rate in a Neotenic Population of Eurycea Multiplicata

Date of Graduation

Summer 1994

Degree

Master of Science in Biology

Department

Biology

Committee Chair

Robert Wilkinson

Abstract

Eurycea multiplicata is a lungless salamander found in Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area in Christian County, Missouri. There are several populations of this species which are neotenic, including the one used here. The present study measured oxygen uptake of these animals in the laboratory in order to predict how they might behave in response to changing temperatures. Animals were acclimated to both 10 and 20°C for three weeks, and tested at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C. Warm-acclimated animals showed a partial compensation in metabolic rate when compared to cold-acclimated animals. Q₁₀ for cold-acclimated animals was 2.09 (between 5 and 20°C), while the Q₁₀ for warm-acclimated animals over the same range was 1.39. Cold-acclimated animals appeared to be close to their lethal thermal maximum at 25°C.

Subject Categories

Biology

Copyright

© Cary A Guffey

Citation-only

Dissertation/Thesis

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