Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Aerobic and anaerobic metabolism during activity in the lizardDipsosaurus dorsalis

  • Published:
Journal of comparative physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

  1. 1.

    Oxygen consumption and lactate content of the lizardDipsosaurus dorsalis were determined under standard conditions and for a bout of maximal activity induced by a 2-min period of electrical stimulation. Observations were made between 25 ° and 45 °C.

  2. 2.

    Maximal aerobic scope, 2.27 cm3 O2/(g × hr), occurred at 40 °C (Figs. 2, 4). The increase in oxygen consumption during activity at the various temperatures between 25 ° and 45 °C represented 7- to 17-fold of corresponding resting levels.

  3. 3.

    Lactate content of restingDipsosaurus is independent of temperature and averages 0.25 mg/g body weight. Maximal lactate production during the activity induced by a 2-min period of electrical stimulation occurred at 40 °C (Fig. 3). The capacity ofDipsosaurus for anaerobic metabolism exceeds that of other lizards investigated, both in its magnitude and in its thermal dependence.

  4. 4.

    The total amount of energy mobilized byDipsosaurus in the activity induced by a 2-min period of electrical stimulation was maximal at 40 °C (Fig. 4). Anaerobiosis accounts for a minimum of 58–83% of the total energetic expenditure.

  5. 5.

    It is postulated that the principal physiological adaptations to preferred thermal levels in reptiles have involved energy mobilization during and rapid recovery after activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Asplund, K. K.: Metabolic scope and body temperatures of whiptail lizards (Cnemidophorus). Herpetologica26, 403–411 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckman, W. A., Mitchell, J. W., Porter, W. P.: Thermal model for prediction of a desert iguana's daily and seasonal behavior. Amer. Soc. Mech. Engineers Publ. 71-WA/HT-35, 7 (1971).

  • Belkin, D. A.: The running speeds of the lizardsDipsosaurus dorsalis andCallisaurus draconoides. Copeia1961, 223–224 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, A. F.: Oxygen transport and energy metabolism in two species of lizards,Sauromalus hispidus andVaranus gouldii. Ph. D. Thesis. Ann Arbor: Univ. of Michigan 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, A. F.: A comparison of activities of metabolic enzymes in lizards and rats. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.42B, 637–647 (1972a).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, A. F.: The effect of activity on oxygen consumption, oxygen debt, and heart rate in the lizardsVaranus gouldii andSauromalus hispidus. J. Comp. Physiol.79, 259–280 (1972b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, A. F., Dawson, W. R.: Reptilian metabolism. In: Biology of the Reptilia. Physiology A, vol. 5, ed. C. Gans. New York: Academic Press (in press).

  • Bennett, A. F., Licht, P.: Anaerobic metabolism during activity in lizards. J. Comp. Physiol.81, 277–288 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, S. F.: Respiratory metabolism of certain reptiles and amphibia. Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool.53, 367–376 (1949).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, W. R., Bartholomew, G. A.: Relation of oxygen consumption to body weight, temperature, and temperature acclimation in lizardsUta stansburiana andSceloporus occidentalis. Physiol. Zool.29, 40–51 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, W. R., Bartholomew, G. A.: Metabolic and cardiac responses to temperature in the lizardDipsosaurus dorsalis. Physiol. Zool.31, 100–111 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, W. R., Poulson, T. L.: Oxygen capacity of lizard bloods. Amer. Midl. Nat.68, 154–164 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, W. R., Templeton, J. R.: Physiological responses to temperature in the lizardCrotaphytus collaris. Physiol. Zool.36, 219–236 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • DeWitt, C. B.: Behavioral thermoregulation in the iguanid lizard,Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Ph. D. Thesis. Ann Arbor: Univ. of Michigan 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeWitt, C. B.: Precision of thermoregulation and its relation to environmental factors in the desert iguana,Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Physiol. Zool.40, 49–66 (1967a).

    Google Scholar 

  • DeWitt, C. B.: Behavioral thermoregulation in the desert iguana. Science158, 809–810 (1967b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dill, D. B.: Life, heat, and altitude. Physiological effects of hot climates and great heights. Cambridge: Harvard Univ. Press 1938.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dill, D. B., Edwards, H. T., Book, A. V., Talbott, J. H.: Properties of reptilian blood. III. The chuckwalla (Sauromalus obesus Baird). J. cell. Comp. Physiol.6, 37–42 (1935).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry, F. E. J.: Effects of the environment on animal activity. Pub. Ont. Fish. Res. Lab. No68, 1–62 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemmingsen, A. M.: Energy metabolism as related to body size and respiratory surfaces, and its evolution. Rep. Steno Mem. Hosp. Nord. Insulinlab.9, 1–110 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, R. W.: Determination of oxygen consumption using the paramagnetic oxygen analyzer. J. appl. Physiol.33, 261–263 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Licht, P.: Effects of temperature on heart rates of lizards during rest and activity. Physiol. Zool.38, 129–137 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayhew, W. W.: Growth response to photoperiodic stimulation in the lizardDipsosaurus dorsalis. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.14, 209–216 (1965a).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayhew, W. W.: Hibernation in the horned lizard,Phrynosoma m'calli. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.16, 103–119 (1965b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayhew, W. W.: Biology of desert amphibians and reptiles, p. 195–356. In: Desert biology, ed. G. W. Brown, Jr. New York: Academic Press 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayhew, W. W.: Reproduction in the desert lizard,Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Herpetologica27, 57–77 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Minnich, J. E.: Water and electrolyte balance of the desert iguana,Dipsosaurus dorsalis, in its natural habitat. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.35, 921–933 (1970a).

    Google Scholar 

  • Minnich, J. E.: Evaporative water loss from the desert iguana,Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Copeia1970, 575–578 (1970b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Minnich, J. E., Shoemaker, V. H.: Diet, behavior and water turnover in the desert iguana,Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Amer. Midl. Nat.84, 496–509 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Moberly, W. R.: Hibernation in the desert iguana,Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Physiol. Zool.36, 152–160 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Moberly, W. R.: The metabolic responses of the common iguana,Iguana iguana, to activity under restraint. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.27, 1–20 (1968a).

    Google Scholar 

  • Moberly, W. R.: The metabolic responses of the common iguana,Iguana iguana, to walking and diving. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.27, 21–32 (1968b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, K. S.: The ecology of the desert iguanaDipsosaurus dorsalis. Ecology34, 265–287 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pough, F. H.: Environmental adaptations in the blood of lizards. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.31, 885–901 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Privitera, C. A., Mersmann, H. J.: Seasonal oxidative phosphorylation by turtle heart mitochondria. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.17, 1045–1048 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, L. A.: Oxygen consumption in the lizardUta stansburiana. Ecology49, 809–819 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoemaker, V. H., Licht, P., Dawson, W. R.: Thermal dependence of water and electrolyte excretion in two species of lizards. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.23, 255–262 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weathers, W. W.: Physiological thermoregulation in the lizardDipsosaurus dorsalis. Copeia1970, 549–557 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, K. J.: The relationships of activity, energy, metabolism, and body temperature in four species of lizards. Ph. D. Thesis. Clayton, Victoria: Monash Univ. 1971.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, California

    Albert F. Bennett

  2. Department of Zoology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

    William R. Dawson

Authors
  1. Albert F. Bennett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. William R. Dawson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This study was supported in part by a Miller Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to AFB and by National Science Foundation Grant GB-25022 to WRD. We thank Dr. Lon McClanahan for assistance in collecting the animals.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bennett, A.F., Dawson, W.R. Aerobic and anaerobic metabolism during activity in the lizardDipsosaurus dorsalis . J. Comp. Physiol. 81, 289–299 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693633

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693633

Keywords

Search

Navigation