Electric organ discharge frequencies from two weakly electric gymnotiform fish exposed to carbon dioxide, conductivity and pH changes.
Electric organ discharge (EOD) frequencies of two weakly electric, gymnotiform, water-breathing fish decreased abruptly with an increase in carbon dioxide concentration and decrease in pH, caused by bubbling carbon dioxide in water. After carbon dioxide bubbling ceased, the recovery of EOD frequencies was linear with the return toward normal pH, but with a lag, so that the frequency was below normal even 24 h after pH returned to the control value. In another series of experiments, blood collected by cardiac puncture after carbon dioxide bubbling was cut off showed pH values below normal, indicating a lag in the blood buffering capability. Conductivity of the water did not influence EOD frequency.
D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D004555:Electric Fish / Q000502:physiology*; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000502:physiology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D012119:Respiration; D013696:Temperature
D002245:Carbon Dioxide