Overwintering Turtles and the Implications for Humans Avoiding Anoxia

Oxygen is necessary for animal life, a truism that is so ingrained in experience and knowledge that few people stop to consider that many animals can go for significantly long periods of time without taking in oxygen. The freshwater turtle is a wonderful example of this adaptive physiology; it overwinters at the bottoms of lakes, and, to do so goes into a state of hibernation that allows it to live at the bottom of the lake without taking in additional oxygen for long periods of time. Scientists believe that two main physiological adaptations enable the turtles to engage in this behavior. First, the turtles' bodies depress their metabolic and cellular processes, which reduces their need for oxygen consumption. However, dealing with the need for oxygen only solves half of the hibernation dilemma; animals also build up lactic acid and this build...
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