Respiratory System
Why is oxygen important for a turtle? How is it used, and what comes out?
For turtles, like other organisms, oxygen is needed for energy and natural bodily functions.[1] Oxygen provides energy and generates ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in the mitochondria, the site of cellular respiration in a cell. Glucose, the main energy source, can be turned into 36 ATPs by the mitochondria in the cells.
The formula for cellular respiration is:
C6H12O6 (Glucose) + O2 (Oxygen) --> H2O (Water) + CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) + ATP
The formula for cellular respiration is:
C6H12O6 (Glucose) + O2 (Oxygen) --> H2O (Water) + CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) + ATP
ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate. It is a cell's energy "bank." In the diagram above, you can see that there are three phosphate groups as part of ATP. In the bonds of the phosphate groups, energy is stored. Since so much energy is stored in the bonds, one of the bonds "break," releasing some energy and letting go of one of the phosphate groups. This makes ATP turn into ADP, adenosine diphosphate. To make ADP turn into ATP again, glucose that contains energy forms another bond with ADP, turning ADP into ATP again. Glucose that contains energy forms another bond with ADP, turning ADP into ATP again.
The oxygen that the turtle breathes in passes through the respiratory system to the lungs. These lungs can be inflated for long periods underwater, and can also be used to float up the surface.[2] This oxygen travels from the gas exchange in the alveoli of the lungs to the blood vessel, and they get distributed to the body cells. The mitochondria then begin working by breaking down the sugars of the food (which is glucose) that the turtle eats, and uses the oxygen to combine electrons in the electron transport gradient (ETC) with hydrogen ions, otherwise known as protons, to form water, a waste product. The electron transport chain, which is the actual mechanism by which ATP is produced, needs oxygen to accept the electrons.[7]
Like humans, carbon dioxide is a result from getting energy from breaking down sugars, fats, and amino acids.[3] But unlike humans, turtles have the ability to withstand much higher levels of carbon dioxide in their bodies.[4] When breathing out, other organs press against the lungs, since the turtle shell limits the space of organs and they are all cramped together.[5]
How does oxygen travel in a turtle's body?
Turtles go up to the surface from the water to get air. So the oxygen is in air form.
The turtle can breathe through the mouth and the pharynx. When oxygen levels are low, like deep sea diving or hibernation, turtles take in oxygen through their cloaca, a small cavity inside the turtle's anus.
The glottis is a small opening located behind the tongue. It acts like a barrier between the pharynx and the larynx.
The air goes down to the larynx, leading to the trachea, a lengthy, hollow tube. The air travels down to the two bronchus tubes (bronchi). Each bronchus then leads into a lung.
The lungs are located undernearth the upper shell and they are big, sponge like organs. In the lungs, bronxhus tubes split into bronxhioles, which then lead to the alveoli. After gas is exchanged, the alveoli pass the carbon dioxide back up again, all the way to the mouth or pharynx.[6]
The turtle can breathe through the mouth and the pharynx. When oxygen levels are low, like deep sea diving or hibernation, turtles take in oxygen through their cloaca, a small cavity inside the turtle's anus.
The glottis is a small opening located behind the tongue. It acts like a barrier between the pharynx and the larynx.
The air goes down to the larynx, leading to the trachea, a lengthy, hollow tube. The air travels down to the two bronchus tubes (bronchi). Each bronchus then leads into a lung.
The lungs are located undernearth the upper shell and they are big, sponge like organs. In the lungs, bronxhus tubes split into bronxhioles, which then lead to the alveoli. After gas is exchanged, the alveoli pass the carbon dioxide back up again, all the way to the mouth or pharynx.[6]
Diffusion of gas, in other words, gas exchange, occurs in the alveoli, small groups of air sacs. The oxygen from the air diffuses into the blood vessels. At the same time, carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blod vessels and into the alveoli.[6]
FUN FACTS!
- If their environment has low oxygen, turtles have a backup air taker, the cloaca, located at a turtle's anus. The cloaca is mainly used to increase area for gas exchange.[8] So in a way, you can say that turtles do breathe with their butts (sometimes).
- Aerobic respiration, which is cellular respiration with available oxygen, provides oxygen storage capabilities of twenty minutes. With anaerobic respiration, cellular respiration without oxygen, oxygen storage capabilities extend up to three or four hours.[6]
How to bog turtles regulate?
Bog turtles, just like other turtles, perform something called basking. It's when a turtle or any cold-blooded animal rests on the sun in order for their metabolism to function and to regulate body temperature. [9]
Bog turtles (and other turtles) also try to cool down by going into water and estivating. [9]
[1]http://www.ehow.com/about_6365115_do-turtles-breathe-under-water_.html
[2]http://www.ehow.com/info_8737876_respiratory-system-turtles.html
[3]http://www.oxygen-review.com/carbon-dioxide.html
[4]http://julia-jellybean05.wix.com/costa-rica-wildlife#!sea-turtle-respiratory-system
[5]http://www.strangequestions.com/question/1045/How-do-turtles-breathe.html
[6]http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/anphys/2000/Pleasants/resp.htm
[7]http://www.ehow.com/about_6554251_oxygen-important-cellular-respiration_.html
[8]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptile#Respiration
[9]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bog_turtle
[2]http://www.ehow.com/info_8737876_respiratory-system-turtles.html
[3]http://www.oxygen-review.com/carbon-dioxide.html
[4]http://julia-jellybean05.wix.com/costa-rica-wildlife#!sea-turtle-respiratory-system
[5]http://www.strangequestions.com/question/1045/How-do-turtles-breathe.html
[6]http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/anphys/2000/Pleasants/resp.htm
[7]http://www.ehow.com/about_6554251_oxygen-important-cellular-respiration_.html
[8]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptile#Respiration
[9]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bog_turtle