Evolutionary and cardio-respiratory physiology of air-breathing and amphibious fishes

Author(s)

Damsgaard, Christian ; Baliga, Vikram B. ; Bates, Eric ; Burggren, Warren ; McKenzie, David J. ; Taylor, Edwin ; Wright, Patricia A.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA; v. 228, n. 3, p. 22-pg., 2019-11-13.

Abstract

Air-breathing and amphibious fishes are essential study organisms to shed insight into the required physiological shifts that supported the full transition from aquatic water-breathing fishes to terrestrial air-breathing tetrapods. While the origin of air-breathing in the evolutionary history of the tetrapods has received considerable focus, much less is known about the evolutionary physiology of air-breathing among fishes. This review summarizes recent advances within the field with specific emphasis on the cardiorespiratory regulation associated with air-breathing and terrestrial excursions, and how respiratory physiology of these living transitional forms are affected by development and personality. Finally, we provide a detailed and re-evaluated model of the evolution of air-breathing among fishes that serves as a framework for addressing new questions on the cardiorespiratory changes associated with it. This review highlights the importance of combining detailed studies on piscine air-breathing model species with comparative multi-species studies, to add an additional dimension to our understanding of the evolutionary physiology of air-breathing in vertebrates. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/22326-0 - The respiratory physiology of fishes: ecological and evolutionary significance of individual variation
• Grantee: Francisco Tadeu Rantin
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International