Respiration and Weight
3.11
'2 2 K
h
Co
'N
o
~21>
!
I! 24
,g
:g 22
!! .,
E
co 2.11
o
...J
IR .----~
119
1.1
31
IJ
U
1.1
1.9
2.1
Log weight (\Jg)
Fig. 3.3. Metabolic rate plotted against live weight (double log scale) of the oribatid Scheloribates cf. latipes. a Estimates made in specimens acclimated to a constant temperature of 28°C; b
estimates in specimens during acclimation from fluctuating to constant temperatures. (Data
from Asikidis 1989)
mass relationship's independence of temperature, as is the case with the
majority of arthropods studied. It is nevetheless worth noting that the values
of the parameter b estimated for Mediterranean arthropods fall towards the
lower limit of values reported for arthropods from polar, temperate and even
tropical regions. Thus, live weight of Mediterranean arthropods affects respiration metabolism only to a relatively moderate extent. Furthermore, the data
show that respiratory biomass is more or less evenly distributed among the
age classes. This implies that mature and immature individuals are, to some
extent, equally efficient with respect to energy transformation. The collembolan O. meridiatus constitutes a slight exception in that the response of
younger individuals to increased temperature is different from that of older
specimens.
Finally, it is evident that although parallel, the regression lines in Fig. 3.2
cannot be replaced by a single one because of differences in their elevations.
Further analysis, however, showed no differences in mean respiratory metabolism between two successive temperatures except between 15 and 20°C. As
will be shown below in this chapter, this observation is of adaptive value.
The above conclusions refer to estimates made independently of the thermal regime previously experienced by the arthropods. Nevertheless, when the
relationship between respiratory metabolism and live weight of oribatids was
studied separately (1) in specimens during their acclimation from fluctuating
to constant temperatures and (2) in specimens already acclimated to constant
temperature, a temperature-dependent relationship between respiratory activity and live weight was found (Asikidis 1989; Fig. 3.3). The recorded dependence of respiration on live weight was lower during acclimation than afterwards. Moreover, in specimens acclimated to fluctuating as well as specimens
3.11
'2 2 K
h
Co
'N
o
~21>
!
I! 24
,g
:g 22
!! .,
E
co 2.11
o
...J
IR .----~
119
1.1
31
IJ
U
1.1
1.9
2.1
Log weight (\Jg)
Fig. 3.3. Metabolic rate plotted against live weight (double log scale) of the oribatid Scheloribates cf. latipes. a Estimates made in specimens acclimated to a constant temperature of 28°C; b
estimates in specimens during acclimation from fluctuating to constant temperatures. (Data
from Asikidis 1989)
mass relationship's independence of temperature, as is the case with the
majority of arthropods studied. It is nevetheless worth noting that the values
of the parameter b estimated for Mediterranean arthropods fall towards the
lower limit of values reported for arthropods from polar, temperate and even
tropical regions. Thus, live weight of Mediterranean arthropods affects respiration metabolism only to a relatively moderate extent. Furthermore, the data
show that respiratory biomass is more or less evenly distributed among the
age classes. This implies that mature and immature individuals are, to some
extent, equally efficient with respect to energy transformation. The collembolan O. meridiatus constitutes a slight exception in that the response of
younger individuals to increased temperature is different from that of older
specimens.
Finally, it is evident that although parallel, the regression lines in Fig. 3.2
cannot be replaced by a single one because of differences in their elevations.
Further analysis, however, showed no differences in mean respiratory metabolism between two successive temperatures except between 15 and 20°C. As
will be shown below in this chapter, this observation is of adaptive value.
The above conclusions refer to estimates made independently of the thermal regime previously experienced by the arthropods. Nevertheless, when the
relationship between respiratory metabolism and live weight of oribatids was
studied separately (1) in specimens during their acclimation from fluctuating
to constant temperatures and (2) in specimens already acclimated to constant
temperature, a temperature-dependent relationship between respiratory activity and live weight was found (Asikidis 1989; Fig. 3.3). The recorded dependence of respiration on live weight was lower during acclimation than afterwards. Moreover, in specimens acclimated to fluctuating as well as specimens