Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

A Simple Approach to Manipulate Dissolved Oxygen for Animal Behavior Observations
Published on: June 28, 2016
Studying biological responses to global change in atmospheric oxygen
1Division of Physiology, Department of Medicine and White Mountain Research Station, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0623, USA. fpowell@ucsd.edu
Abstract:
A popular book recently hypothesized that change in atmospheric oxygen over geological time is the most important physical factor in the evolution of many fundamental characteristics of modern terrestrial animals. This hypothesis is generated primarily using fossil data but the present paper considers how modern experimental biology can be used to test it. Comparative physiology and experimental evolution clearly show that changes in atmospheric O(2) over the ages had the potential to drive evolution, assuming the physiological O(2)-sensitivity of animals today is similar to the past. Established methods, such as phylogenetically independent contrasts, as well new approaches, such as adding environmental history to phylogenetic analyses or modeling interactions between environmental stresses and biological responses with different rate constants, may be useful for testing (disproving) hypotheses about biological adaptations to changes in atmospheric O(2).
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns
Chemical Factors Affecting Respiration Centers
CO2 has a potent influence on respiration and is strictly regulated. Under...
Oxygenic Photosynthesis
Physiological Control of Respiration
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...
Origin of Photosynthesis
Factors Affecting Respiration

