Anaerobic Threshold of Anuran Amphibians

• Published in: Physiological zoology 1984-11, Vol.57 (6), p.641-647
• Main Authors: Taigen, Theodore L., Beuchat, Carol A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amphibians; Anaerobiosis; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Foraging; Frogs; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Lactates; Lizards; Metabolism; Oxygen; Oxygen consumption; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports
• ISSN: 0031-935X; 1937-4267
• DOI: 10.1086/physzool.57.6.30155990

The metabolic responses to graded levels of exercise were determined for three species of anuran amphibians (Bufo americanus, Hyla crucifer, and Rana sylvatica). Both oxygen consumption ($\dot{V}_{O_{2}}$) and lactate production were measured at low, moderate, and high levels of mechanically stimfilated activity. Significant elevations in whole-body lactate content were observed in all three species during moderate exercise. Anaerobic threshold, defined as the$\dot{V}_{O_{2}}$above which metabolic acidosis occurs, was estimated to be 0.47 ml O₂/(g · h) for B. americanus (45% of maximum oxygen consumption,$\dot{V}_{O_{2}}$max), 0.56 ml O₂/(g · h) for H. crucifer (54% of$\dot{V}_{O_{2}}$max), and 0.47 ml O₂/(g · h) for R. sylvatica (63% of$\dot{V}_{O_{2}}$max). These values are consistent with data for other vertebrates, suggesting that anaerobic threshold is a relatively constant percentage of aerobic capacity.