Final answer:
The authors tested ventilation in a higher carbon dioxide environment to understand the influence of elevated CO2 levels on the respiratory system, as it stimulates increased ventilation to manage blood acidity and pH balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The authors likely tested ventilation in a higher than normal carbon dioxide environment because ventilation is influenced by elevated carbon dioxide levels. The respiratory system is closely monitored and adjusted based on the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood. When the level of carbon dioxide increases, this leads to an accumulation of hydrogen ions, making the blood more acidic. The peripheral chemoreceptors in the aortic arch and carotid arteries detect this change and stimulate an increase in ventilation. This heightened ventilation serves to expel carbon dioxide more rapidly from the bloodstream, enabling the reduction of hydrogen ions and an increase in systemic pH, thereby restoring the body's normal acid-base balance.
Testing in this manner allows for a clearer understanding of the respiratory response to increased carbon dioxide, which is crucial in understanding how the body adapts to various physiological and environmental conditions. Additionally, the research can have implications for understanding how increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels due to pollution or climate change might affect human health.