Morphometrics of fish gills

doi:10.1016/0034-5687(72)90014-X

Respiration Physiology

Volume 14, Issues 1–2, March 1972, Pages 1-25

Respiration Physiolo...

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Abstract

Morphometric studies contribute to our understanding of gill function in respect of (a) the flow of water across the gills, and (b) gas exchange.

The resistance to water flow is subdivided into its component parts and evidence presented that recruitment of both water and blood pathways play an important role in gill function. It is suggested that recruitment and differences in ventilation/perfusion ratio can account for observations which otherwise necessitate a shunt pathway across the secondary lamellae.

Measurements of gill area are discussed in relation to the analyses using log/log transformations. It is concluded that the exponent in the relationship x = aW^b may range from 0.5–1.0 in different fish (x, gill area ; W, body weight ; a, constant). Its relationship to the exponent for O₂ consumption of the same species may have some bearing on the scope for activity of fish.

The importance of secondary lamella shape is discussed in relation to analyses of the water and blood O₂ tensions, along the secondary lamellae of dogfish and icefish. These analyses support the view that flow is counter-current and that the most common shape of the secondary lamella ensures that a greater amount of O₂ is transferred for given unit area.

Measurements of thickness of the water/blood barrier are discussed and results of measurements of the harmonic mean thickness for the tench are compared with previous methods. Calculations of the diffusing capacity of the gills from morphometric data give figures which are about 10 times greater than those measured physiologically. The resistance to gas transfer involves many parts; that due to the resistance to diffusion and convection of the water film is especially large in the gill.

It is concluded that there is a great need for the combined application of morphometric techniques in conjunction with physiological measurements on the same individual fish.

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^☆: This paper was presented at the satellite symposium “Comparative Physiology of Respiration in Vertebrates” of the XXV International Congress of Physiological Sciences (Göttingen, 2–4 August 197l).

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Morphometrics of fish gills☆

Abstract

Respir. Physiol.

Respir. Physiol.

Comp. Biochem. Physiol.

Respir. Physiol.

Comp. Biochem. Physiol.

Comp. Biochem. Physiol.

Comp. Biochem. Physiol.

Respir. Physiol.

The structure and the mechanism of movement of the gill-filaments in Teleostei

Arch. neerl. Zool.

The relation of size to rate of oxygen consumption and sustained swimming speed of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)

J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can.

Analysis of ram ventilation offish gills with application to skipjack tuna (Katsuwonis pelamis)

J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can.

The respiratory surface of the gills of teleosts. Part I. The respiratory surface of the gills in the flounder, Pleuronectes platessa, and perch, Perca fluviatilis

Zoologica Pol.

The respiratory surface of the gills in teleosts. Part II. The respiratory surface of the gills in the eel (Angulla anguilla L.), the Loach (Misgurnusfossilis L.), and the perch-pike (Lucioperca lucioperca L.)

Acta biol. cracov.

The respiratory surface of the gills in teleosts. Part III. The respiratory surface of the gills in tench (Tinea tinea L.) and the chondrostoma (Chondrostoma nasus L.)

Acta biol. cracov.

Evaluation of opercular catheterization as a method for sampling water expired by fish

J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can.

Water flow and gas exchange at the gills of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri

J. exp. Biol.

Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity in the bullhead catfish

J. Appl. Physiol.

Effect of environment on animal activity

Publs. Ont. Fish. Res. Lab. No. 55

Comparative study of the gill area of marine fishes

Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole

Oxygen uptake and transport by the rainbow trout during exposure to carbon monoxide

J. exp. Biol.

The effect of size of red cells on the kinetics of their oxygen uptake

J. gen. Physiol.

The mechanism of gill ventilation in three freshwater teleostean fishes

J. exp. Biol.

Respiratory mechanisms and their nervous control in fish