Oxygen consumption rates of Pagothenia borchgrevinki: A study to determine if they can utilise their skin surface for gas exchange

The ability of Pagothenia borchgrevinki to utilise their skin surface for gas exchange was examined. A fish was anaesthetised and a rubber collar placed over the fish, isolating the head of the animal including the gills from the trunk. The fish was then transferred to a respirometer chamber designed such that the rubber collar acted as a seal. In this way, oxygen consumption of the head and of the trunk could be monitored separately.