The physiology of overwintering in a turtle that occupies multiple habitats, the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina).
Common snapping turtles, Chelydra serpentina (Linnaeus), were submerged in anoxic and normoxic water at 3 degrees C. Periodic blood samples were taken, and PO(2), PCO(2), pH, [Na(+)], [K(+)], [Cl(-)], total Ca, total Mg, [lactate], [glucose], hematocrit, and osmolality were measured; weight gain was determined; and plasma [HCO(3)(-)] was calculated. Submergence in normoxic water caused a decrease in PCO(2) from 10.8 to 6.9 mmHg after 125 d, partially compensating a slight increase in lactate and allowing the turtles to maintain a constant pH. Submergence in anoxic water caused a rapid increase in lactate from 1.8 to 168.1 mmol/L after 100 d. Associated with the increased lactate were decreases in pH from 8.057 to 7.132 and in [HCO(3)(-)] from 51.5 to 4.9 mmol/L and increases in total Ca from 2.0 to 36.6 mmol/L, in total Mg from 1.8 to 12.1 mmol/L, and in [K(+)] from 3.08 to 8.45 mmol/L. We suggest that C. serpentina is tolerant of anoxic submergence and therefore is able to exploit habitats unavailable to some other species in northern latitudes.
Reese
Scott A
SA
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA. Scott_Reese@Brown.edu
Jackson
Donald C
DC
Ultsch
Gordon R
GR
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000818:Animals; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004463:Ecology; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006605:Hibernation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D012621:Seasons; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014426:Turtles / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014922:Wisconsin
D014867:Water; D019344:Lactic Acid; D010100:Oxygen