The role of fatigue in temperature resistance of salamanders
Abstract
1. We measured temperature resistance and lactic acid production of Notophthalmus viridescens and Plethodon cinerus acclimated to 10, 20 or 30°C.
2. Fatigue is responsible for the Loss of Righting Response (LRR) observed when Plethodon are heated and contributes to the LRR of Notophthalmus efts.
3. LRR is purely a manifestation of incapacitation by high temperature in Notophthalmus adults.
4. The Critical Thermal Maximum (CTM) is solely a product of temperature incapacitation in all three forms.
5. The standard test for temperature resistance should be expanded to include tests of fatigue.