Stabenau and Vietti The physiological effects of multiple forced submergences of Caretto caretta 



893 



Blood collection 



Figure 2 



Blood pH (A), PcOj (B), and lactate (C) measured prior to and afler three succes- 

 sive forced submergence episodes in loggerhead sea turtles in TED-equipped nets. 

 Blood collection 1, 3, and 5 are presubmergence samples, whereas blood collection 

 2, 4, and 6 are postsubmergence samples. Blood collection 7 was taken 180 min 

 after the final submergence. The surface interval between the submergences was 

 10 min (T), 42 min (•), or 180 min (■). Data from control turtles (A) are shown 

 for comparison. 



blood acid-base variables, whereas a brief surface interval 

 permitted minimal recovery of blood homeostasis (Figs. 1 

 and 2). Submersion of experimental turtles a third time 

 resulted in similar changes in blood pH, PCO2, and lactate 



to that measured following the second submersion, and 

 the length of the at-surface rest interval affected the mag- 

 nitude of recovery of blood acid-base status. The seventh 

 serial sample collected 180 min after the final postsubmer- 



