Respiratory Strategies in Relation to Ecology and Behaviour in Three Diurnal Namib Desert Tenebrionid Beetles

The respiratory physiology of three diurnal ultraxerophilous tenebrionid beetles inhabiting either the dune slipface or gravel plain in the Namib Desert was investigated. The role of the mesothoracic spiracles and subelytral cavity in gas exchange was determined by flow-through respirometry. All thr...

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Autor principal:	Frances D. Duncan
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	discontinuous gas exchange subelytral cavity metabolic rate arid habitat Tenebrionidae darkling beetles Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/b806642e8b6e42b789e27e0288920287
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:b806642e8b6e42b789e27e02889202872021-11-25T17:59:58ZRespiratory Strategies in Relation to Ecology and Behaviour in Three Diurnal Namib Desert Tenebrionid Beetles10.3390/insects121110362075-4450https://doaj.org/article/b806642e8b6e42b789e27e02889202872021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/11/1036https://doaj.org/toc/2075-4450The respiratory physiology of three diurnal ultraxerophilous tenebrionid beetles inhabiting either the dune slipface or gravel plain in the Namib Desert was investigated. The role of the mesothoracic spiracles and subelytral cavity in gas exchange was determined by flow-through respirometry. All three species exhibited the discontinuous gas exchange cycles with a distinct convection based flutter period and similar mass specific metabolic rates. There was variation in their respiration mechanics that related to the ecology of the species. The largest beetle species, <i>Onymacris plana</i>, living on the dune slipface, has a leaky subelytral cavity and used all its spiracles for gas exchange. Thus, it could use evaporative cooling from its respiratory surface. This species is a fog harvester as well as able to replenish water through metabolising fats while running rapidly. The two smaller species inhabiting the gravel plains, <i>Metriopus depressus</i> and <i>Zophosis amabilis</i>, used the mesothoracic spiracles almost exclusively for gas exchange as well as increasing the proportional length of the flutter period to reduce respiratory water loss. Neither species have been reported to drink water droplets, and thus conserving respiratory water would allow them to be active longer.Frances D. DuncanMDPI AGarticlediscontinuous gas exchangesubelytral cavitymetabolic ratearid habitatTenebrionidaedarkling beetlesScienceQENInsects, Vol 12, Iss 1036, p 1036 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	discontinuous gas exchange subelytral cavity metabolic rate arid habitat Tenebrionidae darkling beetles Science Q
spellingShingle	discontinuous gas exchange subelytral cavity metabolic rate arid habitat Tenebrionidae darkling beetles Science Q Frances D. Duncan Respiratory Strategies in Relation to Ecology and Behaviour in Three Diurnal Namib Desert Tenebrionid Beetles
description	The respiratory physiology of three diurnal ultraxerophilous tenebrionid beetles inhabiting either the dune slipface or gravel plain in the Namib Desert was investigated. The role of the mesothoracic spiracles and subelytral cavity in gas exchange was determined by flow-through respirometry. All three species exhibited the discontinuous gas exchange cycles with a distinct convection based flutter period and similar mass specific metabolic rates. There was variation in their respiration mechanics that related to the ecology of the species. The largest beetle species, <i>Onymacris plana</i>, living on the dune slipface, has a leaky subelytral cavity and used all its spiracles for gas exchange. Thus, it could use evaporative cooling from its respiratory surface. This species is a fog harvester as well as able to replenish water through metabolising fats while running rapidly. The two smaller species inhabiting the gravel plains, <i>Metriopus depressus</i> and <i>Zophosis amabilis</i>, used the mesothoracic spiracles almost exclusively for gas exchange as well as increasing the proportional length of the flutter period to reduce respiratory water loss. Neither species have been reported to drink water droplets, and thus conserving respiratory water would allow them to be active longer.
format	article
author	Frances D. Duncan
author_facet	Frances D. Duncan
author_sort	Frances D. Duncan
title	Respiratory Strategies in Relation to Ecology and Behaviour in Three Diurnal Namib Desert Tenebrionid Beetles
title_short	Respiratory Strategies in Relation to Ecology and Behaviour in Three Diurnal Namib Desert Tenebrionid Beetles
title_full	Respiratory Strategies in Relation to Ecology and Behaviour in Three Diurnal Namib Desert Tenebrionid Beetles
title_fullStr	Respiratory Strategies in Relation to Ecology and Behaviour in Three Diurnal Namib Desert Tenebrionid Beetles
title_full_unstemmed	Respiratory Strategies in Relation to Ecology and Behaviour in Three Diurnal Namib Desert Tenebrionid Beetles
title_sort	respiratory strategies in relation to ecology and behaviour in three diurnal namib desert tenebrionid beetles
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/b806642e8b6e42b789e27e0288920287
work_keys_str_mv	AT francesdduncan respiratorystrategiesinrelationtoecologyandbehaviourinthreediurnalnamibdeserttenebrionidbeetles
_version_	1718411766584573952

Respiratory Strategies in Relation to Ecology and Behaviour in Three Diurnal Namib Desert Tenebrionid Beetles

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