Water vapour absorption in the penicillate millipede<i>Polyxenus lagurus</i>(Diplopoda: Penicillata: Polyxenida): microcalorimetric analysis of uptake kinetics

Wright, J. C.; Westh, Peter

doi:10.1242/jeb.02280

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Accordingly, many millipede species remain inactive for long periods during the dry season, unlike certain woodlice that emerge from their retreats to forage at the most favourable times of the day (Paris, 1963; Shachak et al , 1979). Physiological adaptations, such as a reduced metabolism, tolerance of increased osmolality, and water vapour absorption in unsaturated air, allow millipedes to survive such conditions for weeks or months (Crawford, 1979; Hopkin & Read, 1992; Wright & Westh, 2006). Quite often, dry periods are spent moulting.…”

Section: Direct Effects Of Climate Change On Macroarthropodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ecology of saprophagous macroarthropods (millipedes, woodlice) in the context of global change

2010

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Millipedes (Diplopoda) and woodlice (Crustacea, Isopoda), with a total of about 15000 described species worldwide, contribute substantially to invertebrate biodiversity. These saprophagous macroarthropods, which are key regulators of plant litter decomposition, play an important role in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems in tropical and temperate areas. Herein we review current knowledge on the effects of climate, food quality and land cover on millipede and woodlouse species to explore their potential responses to global change. Essentially similar trends are observed in the two taxa. Experiments have shown that climate warming could result in higher rates of population growth and have positive effects on the abundance of some temperate species. This is consistent with signs of northward expansion in Europe, although the mechanisms of dispersal remain unclear. The generality of this finding is evaluated in relation to the life histories and geographical distributions of species. At low latitudes, interactions with more severe droughts are likely and could affect community composition. Elevated atmospheric CO₂ levels and changes in plant community composition are expected to alter leaf litter quality, a major determinant of macroarthropod fertility via the link with female adult body size. Although food quality changes have been shown to influence population growth rates significantly, it is proposed that the effects of warming will be probably more important during the coming decades. Land cover changes, mainly due to deforestation in the tropics and land abandonment in Europe, are critical to habitat specialists and could override any other effect of global change. Habitat destruction by man may be the main threat to macroarthropod species, many of which are narrow endemics. At the landscape scale, habitat heterogeneity could be a good option for conservation, even at the cost of some fragmentation. Two principal areas are identified which require further work: (i) the effects of climate change across broader geographic ranges, and on species with different ecologies and life histories; (ii) the effects of global change on both macroarthropods and their natural enemies (predators, parasites and pathogens), to improve predictions in field situations.

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Section: Direct Effects Of Climate Change On Macroarthropodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ecology of saprophagous macroarthropods (millipedes, woodlice) in the context of global change

2010

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“…WVA is defined as any energy-dependent process allowing an animal to absorb water vapor from a vapor pressure below the equilibrium vapor pressure of the animal’s body fluids – or from a relative humidity (RH) below about 99 % for practical purposes. The capacity for WVA has evolved independently in several arthropod lineages, including lepismatids, tenebrionid beetles, fleas, corydiid cockroaches, booklice and biting lice, oniscidean isopods, mites and penicillate millipedes (see Machin 1983, Knülle 1984, O’Donnell and Machin 1988, Gaede 1991, Wright and Westh 2006). Whether WVA plays a role during the molt cycle in any of these groups is unknown, although some species lose the capacity for WVA shortly before ecdysis (Edney 1966, Noble-Nesbitt 1978, Coutchié and Crowe 1979).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water vapor absorption allows for volume expansion during molting in Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellio dilatatus (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea)

Nako

Lee

Wright

2018

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Arthropods require periodic molting in order to grow which presents a number of challenges to terrestrial taxa. Following ecdysis, the pliant new cuticle is susceptible to buckling under gravity and requires elevated hydrostatic pressure for support. Terrestrial species also require a mechanism of volume expansion and stretching of the integument prior to sclerotization, a need that is readily met in aquatic arthropods by drinking. Options for land arthropods include drinking of dew, swallowing of air, or using muscular contractions to inflate air sacs in tracheate taxa. In this study we tested the hypothesis that crinochete terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea: Crinocheta) exploit their capacity for active water vapor absorption (WVA) to increase volume during molting. Two crinochete species, Armadillidiumvulgare and Porcelliodilatatus, were studied and compared with the non-absorbing species Ligidiumlapetum (Oniscidea: Ligiamorpha). Pre-molting animals were identified by sternal CaCO3 deposits and exposed to 100% or 97% relative humidity (RH). Mass-changes were monitored by daily weighing and the timing of the posterior and anterior ecdyses was used to categorize time (days premolt and days post-molt) over the molt cycle. In each treatment RH, A.vulgare and P.dilatatus showed a progressive mass increase from 5 days premolt until the posterior or anterior ecdysis, followed abruptly by period of mass-loss lasting 3–4 days post-molt. The fact that the initial mass-gain is seen in 97 % RH, a humidity below the water activity of the hemolymph, confirms the role of WVA. Similarly, since the post-molt mass-loss is seen in 100 % RH, this must be due to active expulsion of water, possibly via maxillary urine. Concurrent changes in hemolymph osmolality were monitored in a separate batch of A.vulgare and show sustained osmolality during premolt and an abrupt decrease between the anterior and posterior ecdysis. These patterns indicate a mobilization of sequestered electrolytes during premolt, and a loss of electrolytes during the post-molt mass-loss, amounting to approximately 8.6 % of total hemolymph solutes. WVA, in conjunction with pulses of elevated hemolymph pressure, provides an efficient mechanism of pre-molt volume expansion prior to and during the biphasic molt in these species. Premolt Ligidiumlapetum exposed to same treatments failed to molt successfully and no premolt animals survived to day 3 (72 h) even in 100 % RH. The apparent dependence of this species on liquid water for successful molting could explain its obligatory association with riparian fringe habitats.

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“…Meanwhile, butterfly wing's hierarchical photonic structures lead to the highly selective vapour response with a range of closely related vapors-water, Methanol, Ethanol and isomers of Dichloroethylene as an optical gas sensor [15]. Water vapour absorption function of Polyxenus lagurus among myriapod is related to its structure of a tubular cryptonephric system that is osmotically impermeable for the uni-directional movement of water [17] and for the rockencrusting lichens and algae to withstand near-complete water losses [18,19]. Potassium channels structures in the carotid bodies have been thought to be O 2 sensitive and could mediate the chemosensitivity to hypoxia [20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hierarchically porous ZnO with high sensitivity and selectivity to H2S derived from biotemplates

Liu

Fan

Zhang

et al. 2009

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

184

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Water vapour absorption in the penicillate millipedePolyxenus lagurus(Diplopoda: Penicillata: Polyxenida): microcalorimetric analysis of uptake kinetics

Cited by 10 publications

References 56 publications

The ecology of saprophagous macroarthropods (millipedes, woodlice) in the context of global change

The ecology of saprophagous macroarthropods (millipedes, woodlice) in the context of global change

Water vapor absorption allows for volume expansion during molting in Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellio dilatatus (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea)

Hierarchically porous ZnO with high sensitivity and selectivity to H2S derived from biotemplates

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