The effect of temperature on the pattern of torpor in a marsupial hibernator

Physiological variables of torpor are strongly temperature dependent in placental hibernators. This study investigated how changes in air temperature affect the duration of torpor bouts, metabolic rate, body temperature and weight loss of the marsupial hibernator Burramys parvus (50 g) in comparison to a control group held at a constant air temperature of 2°C. The duration of torpor bouts was longest (14.0±1.0 days) and metabolic rate was lowest (0.033±0.001 ml O₂·g^-1·h^-1) at2°C. At higher air temperatures torpor bouts were significantly shorter and the metabolic rate was higher. When air temperature was reduced to 0°C, torpor bouts also shortened to 6.4±2.9 days, metabolic rate increased to about eight-fold the values at 2°C, and body temperature was maintained at the regulated minimum of 2.1±0.2°C. Because air temperature had such a strong effect on hibernation, and in particular energy expenditure, a change in climate would most likely increase winter mortality of this endangered species.Abbreviationst STP standard temperature and pressure - T _a air temperature - T _b body temperature - VO₂ rate of oxygen consumption     

Periodicity of recurrent hypothermia during hibernation in the pocket mouse,Perognathus longimembris

Summary The timing of bouts of torpor was continuously monitored in 36 pocket mice,Perognathus longimembris, for as long as 11 months. Animals were kept at 8 °C or 18 °C, with light cycles of LD 1212, 1014, 159, or continuous darkness. At 8 °C, torpor duration had a polymodal frequency distribution, and the near absence of bouts of torpor lasting exactly 24, 48, 72, and 96 h divided the bouts into discrete classes (one-day, two-day, etc.). The maximum duration of torpor was 2.5 times greater at 8 °C than 18 °C.A circadian rhythmicity in the timing of all classes of torpor bouts was indicated because, when entrained to a 24-h photocycle, the intervals between successive arousals were multiples of 24 h. This rhythmicity persisted in continuous darkness, demonstrating its endogenous origin.There were two different free-running periods () for the torpor rhythm of each animal in constant darkness at 8 °C. In general, series of multi-day torpor bouts had a period less than 24 h, while series of one-day bouts showed a period near to or greater than 24 h. The transition between the two frequencies of the torpor rhythm commonly coincided with a phase shift involving one or more transient cycles.The general circadian oscillator model of Aschoff and Wever was modified to describe the timing and the changes in duration of torpor. The data may be viewed as arising from an asymmetrical oscillation which is synchronized by the lights-on transition of the photocycle, and whose shape is correlated with the period of the rhythm. The different classes of torpor (one-day, two-day, etc.) were also timed differently with respect to the entraining conditions of a light-dark cycle, and these differences in timing are consistent with oscillator theory.This study was conducted while the author was in receipt of a U.S. Atomic Energy Commission fellowship. Instrumentation and logistic support were provided by National Science Foundation grant #GB32947 to G.A. Bartholomew. I wish to thank George A. Bartholomew for suggestions throughout the course of this study, and also James Enright, Karl Hamner, and G.J. Kenagy for numerous helpful suggestions.     

Heat Resistance and Thermal Acclimation Rate in Tropical Tetra <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astyanax bimaculatus</Emphasis> of Venezuela

Venezuelan river tetra, Astyanax bimaculatus juveniles of 34.1–36.7mm standard length and 0.83–1.0g wet weight were acclimated for four weeks to 24–33°C, which are approximate average minimum and maximum river temperatures throughout the year. The fish acclimated to 24, 27, 30, and 33°C were exposed for 10000 minutes at 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39°C to determine individual heat resistance times. To determine acclimation rates, the juveniles acclimated to 24 and 30°C were tested for individual heat resistance times at 39°C by changing acclimation temperatures. The individual heat resistance times were increased in accordance with an increase in acclimation temperature and a decrease in test temperature, indicating that acclimation level has a great influence on thermal resistance of the fish tested. As the fish were transferred from 24 to 30°C (upward acclimation), they completed their acclimation level in a few days, while those transferred from 30 to 24°C (downward acclimation) required about 14 days. It has reaffirmed the following general behavior: the rate of gain in thermal resistance is fast and the loss in heat tolerance is very slow. This physiological phenomenon is very important for tropical fish, which acclimates rapidly in rising temperature during the hot day and does not lose this level in decreasing temperature during the cool night. Consequently, a tropical fish can maintain its maximum resistance level, adapt well in thermally fluctuating tropical waters, and survive in lethally high temperatures caused by a sudden increase in temperature during hot day.     

Respiratory heat loss of Holstein cows in a tropical environment

In order to develop statistical models to predict respiratory heat loss in dairy cattle using simple physiological and environmental measurements, 15 Holstein cows were observed under field conditions in a tropical environment, in which the air temperature reached up to 40°C. The measurements of latent and sensible heat loss from the respiratory tract of the animals were made by using a respiratory mask. The results showed that under air temperatures between 10 and 35°C sensible heat loss by convection decreased from 8.24 to 1.09 W m^–2, while the latent heat loss by evaporation increased from 1.03 to 56.51 W m^–2. The evaporation increased together with the air temperature in almost a linear fashion until 20°C, but it became increasingly high as the air temperature rose above 25°C. Convection was a mechanism of minor importance for respiratory heat transfer. In contrast, respiratory evaporation was an effective means of thermoregulation for Holsteins in a hot environment. Mathematical models were developed to predict both the sensible and latent heat loss from the respiratory tract in Holstein cows under field conditions, based on measurements of the ambient temperature, and other models were developed to predict respiration rate, tidal volume, mass flow rate and expired air temperature as functions of the ambient temperature and other variables.This paper forms part of A. S. Campos Maias doctoral thesis.     

Regulated hypothermia in the desert shrew

Summary Desert shrews (Notiosorex crawfordi; 4 g) enter into daily bouts of very shallow torpor, when restricted in their food intake. These bouts, though interrupted and uneven, last throughout that portion of the day the animals' cages are lighted. Body temperature is apparently regulated by fine adjustments of metabolic heat production in hypothermic as well as euthermic desert shrews. Thus, these animals seem to have two temperature thresholds for thermoregulation or body temperature rheostat settings. One is near 38 °C while the other, near 28 °C is likely used exclusively when energy supplies are low. The coefficient of heat transfer is the same at both body temperatures. Power saved by hypothermic animals at air temperatures between 20 and 25 °C amounts to about 96 mW. This is half of the metabolic power output of euthermic shrews at 20 °C and 80% at 25 °C. These results suggest a compromise between the energy savings of a deep torpor and the unimpaired functioning of euthermia.Supported by NSF: DEB 75-18576 and NIH: AM 05738     

Sensible and latent heat loss from the body surface of Holstein cows in a tropical environment

The general principles of the mechanisms of heat transfer are well known, but knowledge of the transition between evaporative and non-evaporative heat loss by Holstein cows in field conditions must be improved, especially for low-latitude environments. With this aim 15 Holstein cows managed in open pasture were observed in a tropical region. The latent heat loss from the body surface of the animals was measured by means of a ventilated capsule, while convective heat transfer was estimated by the theory of convection from a horizontal cylinder and by the long-wave radiation exchange based on the Stefan–Boltzmann law. When the air temperature was between 10 and 36°C the sensible heat transfer varied from 160 to –30 W m^–2, while the latent heat loss by cutaneous evaporation increased from 30 to 350 W m^–2. Heat loss by cutaneous evaporation accounted for 20–30% of the total heat loss when air temperatures ranged from 10 to 20°C. At air temperatures >30°C cutaneous evaporation becomes the main avenue of heat loss, accounting for approximately 85% of the total heat loss, while the rest is lost by respiratory evaporation.Part of first authors doctoral thesis     

Thermoregulation in a large bird,the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

The emu is a large, flightless bird native to Australia. Its habitats range from the high snow country to the arid interior of the continent. Our experiments show that the emu maintains a constant body temperature within the ambient temperature range-5 to 45°C. The males regulate their body temperature about 0.5°C lower than the females. With falling ambient temperature the emu regulates its body temperature initially by reducing conductance and then by increasing heat production. At-5°C the cost of maintaining thermal balance is 2.6 times basal metabolic rate. By sitting down and reducing heat loss from the legs the cost of homeothermy at-5°C is reduced to 1.5 times basal metabolic rate. At high ambient temperatures the emu utilises cutaneous evaporative water loss in addition to panting. At 45°C evaporation is equal to 160% of heat production. Panting accounts for 70% of total evaporation at 45°C. The cost of utilising cutaneous evaporation for the other 30% appears to be an increase in dry conductance.Abbreviations A _r Effective radiating surface area - BMR basal metabolic rate - C _dry dry conductance - CEWL cutaneous evaporative water loss - EHL evaporative heat loss - EWL evaporative water loss - FECO₂ fractional concentration of CO₂ in excurrent air - FF_H2O water content of chamber excurrent air - FEO₂ fractional concentration of O₂ in chamber excurrent air - FICO₂ fractional concentration of CO₂ in incurrent air - FIO₂ fractional concentration of O₂ in chamber incurrent air - MHP metabolic heat production - MR metabolic rate - REWL respiratory evaporative water loss - RH relative humidity - RQ respiratory quotient ; - SA surface area - SEM standard error of the mean - SNK Student-Newman-Keuls multiple range test - STPD standard temperature and pressure dry - T _a ambient temperature(s) - T _b body temperature(s) - T _e surface temperature(s) - flow rate of air into the chamber - carbon dioxide production - oxygen consumption - vapour pressure of water     

Thermal behavior of round and wagtail dancing honeybees

The thermal behavior of round and wagtail dancing honeybees (Apis mellifera carnica) gathering sucrose solutions of concentrations between 0.5 and 2 mol·l^-1 was investigated under field conditions by infrared thermography (30–506 m flight distance). During the stay inside the hive thoracic surface temperature ranged from 31.4 to 43.9 °C. In both round and wagtail dancing honeybees the concentration of sucrose in the food influenced dancing temperature in a non-linear way. Average dancing temperature was 37.9 °C in foragers gathering a 0.5 mol·l^-1 sucrose solution, 40.1°C with a 1 mol·l^-1, 40.6°C with a 1.5 mol·l^-1 and 40.7°C with a 2 mol·l^-1 solution. The variability of thoracic temperature was highest with the 0.5 mol·l^-1 and lowest with the 1.5 and 2 mol·l^-1 concentrations. Thoracic temperatures during trophallactic contact with hive bees were similar to dancing temperature at 1.5 mol·l^-1 but lower at the other concentrations. During periods of distribution of food to hive bees (trophallactic contact >2.5s) the dancers' thorax cooled down by more than 0.5°C considerably more frequently with the 0.5 mol·l^-1 solution (65% of cases) than with the 1.5 mol·l^-1 solution (26%). By contrast, heating the thorax up by more than 0.5°C was infrequent with the 0.5 mol·l^-1 solution (2%) but occurred at a maximum rate of 26% with the 1.5 mol·l^-1 solution. Bees gathering the 1 or 2 mol·l^-1 solutions showed intermediate behavior. Linear model analysis showed that at higher concentrations the dancers compensated better for variations of hive air temperature: per 1 °C increase of hive temperature dancing temperature increased by 0.34, 0.22, 0.12, and 0.13 °C with 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 mol·l^-1 sucrose solutions, respectively. The results furnish evidence that dancing honeybees follow a strategy of selective heterothermy by tuning their thermal behavior to the needs of the behavior performed at the moment. Thoracic temperature is regulated to a high level and more accurately when fast exploitation of profitable food sources is recommended. Thoracic temperature is lowered when the ratio of gain to costs of foraging becomes more unfavorable.Abbreviations SD standard deviation - SD _reg SD around regression line - H _rel relative humidity at feeding station - T _a air temperature at feeding station - T _i air temperature near the dancers - T _d Thoracic surface temperatures - T _d dancing - T _tr trophallactic contact (distribution of food) - T _w walking - T _stay mean temperature of total stay in the hive     

Upper temperature limits for growth and diazotrophy in the thermophilic cyanobacterium HTF Chlorogloeopsis

The effect of temperature and oxygen on diazotrophic growth of the thermophilic cyanobacterium HTF (High Temperature Form) Chlorogloeopsis was investigated using cells grown in light-limited continuous culture at a dilution rate of 0.02 h^-1. Diazotrophy was more sensitive to elevated temperatures than growth with combined nitrogen. The maximum temperature for growth of cultures gassed with CO₂-enriched air was more than 55 °C but less than 60 °C with N₂ as the sole nitrogen source, but between 60°C and 65°C when nitrate was present in the medium. The effect of temperature on nitrogenase activity, photosynthesis and respiration in the dark was determined using cells grown at 55°C. Maximal rates of all three processes were observed at 55°C and rates at 60°C during shortterm incubations were not less than 75% of the maximum. However, nitrogenase activity at 60°C was unstable and decayed at a rate of 2.2 h^-1 under air and at 0.3 h^-1 under argon. Photosynthesis and respiration were more stable at 60°C than anoxic nitrogen fixation. The upper temperature limits for diazotrophic growth thus seem to be set by the stability of nitrogenase.Abbreviations chl chlorophyll a - DCMU N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) N,N-dimethylurea - Taps N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-3-aminopropanesulfonic acid     

Levels of the upper forest boundary in northern Asia

On the Ural range the elevation of upper timberline changes at grade 71 m per degree of latitude in linear regression. Much lengthy cross-section—for the semi-arid regions of middle Siberia and adjacent Kazakhstan, and for the regions of eastern Siberia dominated by larch forests—exhibit parabolic regression of timberline levels upon geographic latitude. The longitudinal gradient of timberlines presumably depends on radiation balance related with the amount of precipitation. The arctic boundary of taiga in eastern Europe and Siberia lies mostly on average latitude 69° 36 E. It correlates with mean July temperature 11.2 °C, or with duration of the growing season 128 days with stable temperature of air exceeding 0°C which amounts to 876°. Daily temperatures exceeding 5° and especially 10 °C are seemingly less influential there. The value of 11.2 °C deviates by about 1 °C from the value of above 10 °C for three summer month reported by Langlet 1935, which shows the close environmental control regulating the northern and upper boundary of the northern, mostly coniferous forest on the northern hemisphere.     

Short-Term Effect of Temperature on Daily Emergency Visits for Acute Myocardial Infarction with Threshold Temperatures

Background

The relationship between temperature and myocardial infarction has not been fully explained. In this study, we identified the threshold temperature and examined the relationship between temperature and emergency admissions due to MI in Korea.

Methods

Poisson generalized additive model analyses were used to assess the short-term effects of temperature (mean, maximum, minimum, diurnal) on MI emergency visits, after controlling for meteorological variable and air pollution (PM10, NO₂). We defined the threshold temperature when the inflection point showed a statistically significant difference in the regression coefficients of the generalized additive models (GAMs) analysis. The analysis was performed on the following subgroups: geographical region, gender, age (<75 years or ≥75 years), and MI status (STEMI or non-STEMI).

Results

The threshold temperatures during heat exposure were for the maximum temperature as 25.5–31.5°C and for the mean temperature as 27.5–28.5°C. The threshold temperatures during cold exposure were for the minimum temperature as −2.5–1.5°C. Relative risks (RRs) of emergency visits above hot temperature thresholds ranged from 1.02 to 1.30 and those below cold temperature thresholds ranged from 1.01 to 1.05. We also observed increased RRs ranged from 1.02 to 1.65 of emergency visits when temperatures changes on a single day or on successive days.

Conclusions

We found a relationship between temperature and MI occurrence during both heat and cold exposure at the threshold temperature. Diurnal temperature or temperature change on successive days also increased MI risk.     

Effects of day-to-day changes in root temperature on leaf conductance to water vapour and CO2 assimilation rates of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.

Summary Leaf gas exchange of Vigna unguiculata was influenced by short-term (day-to-day) changes in soil temperature and the response depended upon the aerial environment. When aerial conditions were constant at 30° C leaf temperature, high air humidity and moderate quantum flux, CO₂ assimilation rate and leaf conductance increased with increases in soil temperature from 20 to 35° C, and this response was reversible. Decreases in CO₂ assimilation rate and leaf conductance were observed at root temperatures above 30° C when root temperatures were increased from 20° C to 40° C and when air humidity was decreased in steps during the day. In contrast, varying soil temperatures between 20 to 35° C had no influence on gas exchange when shoots were subjected to a wide range of temperatures during each day.The gain ratio A/E remained constant at different air humidities when root temperature was less than or equal to 30° C indicating optimal gas exchange regulation, but changed with humidity at higher root temperatures. Leaf conductance responded independently from leaf water potential which remained relatively constant during individual experiments.The results indicate that plant responses to high root temperatures may have relevance to plant performance in semi-arid environments. They also illustrate the importance of controlling soil temperatures when studying the responses of potted plants in controlled aerial environments.Dedicated to K.F. Springer     

Effects of temperan a central synapse between identified motor neurons in the locust

Summary Changing the temperature from 10–40 °C modifies the transmission at an established monosynaptic connection between the fast extensor tibiae (FETi) and flexor tibiae motor neurons in the metathoracic ganglion of the locustSchistocerca gregaria (Forskål). Striking changes occur to the shape of the spikes, to membrane resistance, to the synaptic delay, and to the evoked synaptic potentials.In the presynaptic FETi motor neuron, raising the temperature reduces the amplitude of an antidromic spike recorded in the soma by a factor of 10 (40 mV to 4 mV), reduces the time taken to reach peak amplitude by 5 (3.5 to 0.7 ms) and decreases the duration at half maximum amplitude by 0.5. The conduction velocity of the spike in the axon is increased by 50% from 10 °C to 40 °C. Orthodromic spikes are affected by temperature in a similar way to the antidromic spikes.The membrane resistance of both pre- and postsynaptic motor neurons falls as the temperature is raised. The membrane resistance of FETi falls by a factor of 4 (about 4 M at 10 °C to 1 M at 40 °C). A contributory component to this fall could be the increase in the frequency of synaptic potentials generated as a result of inputs from other neurons. No temperature dependence could be demonstrated on the voltage threshold relative to resting potential for evoking orthodromic spikes, but because the resistance changes, the current needed to achieve this voltage must be increased at higher temperatures.The latency measured from the peak of the spike in the soma of FETi to the start of the EPSP in the soma of a flexor motor neuron decreases by a factor of 20 (10 ms at 10 °C to 0.5 ms at 40 °C).In a postsynaptic flexor tibiae motor neuron, the amplitude of the evoked synaptic potential increases by a factor of 3.4 (5 mV to 17 mV), its duration at half maximum amplitude decreases by 3 (7 ms at 12 °C to 2.3 ms at 32 °C) and its rate of rise increases by 3. An increased likelihood that spikes will occur in the flexor contributes to the enhanced amplitude of the compound EPSP at temperatures above 20 °C.Abbreviation FETi fast extensor tibiae motor neuron     

The degree of dietary fatty acid unsaturation affects torpor patterns and lipid composition of a hibernator

Diets rich in unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids have a positive effect on mammalian torpor, whereas diets rich in saturated fatty acids have a negative effect. To determine whether the number of double bonds in dietary fatty acids are responsible for these alterations in torpor patterns, we investigated the effect of adding to the normal diet 5% pure fatty acids of identical chain length (C18) but a different number of double bonds (0, 1, or 2) on the pattern of hibernation of the yellow-pine chipmunk, Eutamias amoenus. The response of torpor bouts to a lowering of air temperature and the mean duration of torpor bouts at an air temperature of 0.5°C (stearic acid C18:0, 4.5±0.8 days, oleic acid C18:1, 8.6±0.5 days; linoleic acid C18:2, 8.5±0.7 days) differed among animals that were maintained on the three experimental diets. The mean minimum body temperatures (C18:0, +2.3±0.3°C; C18:1, +0.3±0.2°C; C18:2,-0.2±0.2°C), which torpid individuals defended by an increase in metabolic rate, and the metabolic rate of torpid animals also differed among diet groups. Moreover, diet-induced differences were observed in the composition of total lipid fatty acids from depot fat and the phospholipid fatty acids of cardiac mitochondria. For depot fat 7 of 13 and for heart mitochondria 7 of 14 of the identified fatty acids differed significantly among the three diet groups. Significant differences among diet groups were also observed for the sum of saturated, unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. These diet-induced alterations of body fatty acids were correlated with some of the diet-induced differences in variables of torpor. The results suggest that the degree of unsaturation of dietary fatty acids influences the composition of tissues and membranes which in turn may influence torpor patterns and thus survival of hibernation.Abbreviations bm body mass - T _a air temperature - T _b body temperature - FA fatty acid - MR metabolic rate - MUFA monounsaturated fatty acids - PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acids - VO₂ rate of oxygen consumption - SFA saturated fatty acids - UFA unsaturated fatty acids - UI unsaturation index - SNK Student-Newman-Keuls test     

Prolamellar bodies of oat,wheat, and rye: Structure,lipid composition,and adsorption of saponins

Summary Soybean seedlings (Glycine max) were incubated in narrow temperature regimes to study the effects of heat shock on cell structures. The incubation temperatures used were as follows: 1. 28 °C (2h); 2. 40 °C (2h); 3. 45 °C (2h); 4. 40 °C (2h)45 °C (2h); 5. 47. 5 °C (10 min); 6. 40 °C (2h)47. 5 °C (10 min). Both optical and electron micrographs were taken of the different tissues of root meristems as they responded to heat shock. Cells of roots heated to 45 °C (2h) or 47.5 °C (10 min) with lethal treatment showed drastic heat injuries:e.g., membrane damage, coagulated plasmolysis, protoplasmic contraction, and leakage of cell content. Nucleolar segregation occurred in cells treated at both lethal and supraoptimal temperatures. Seedlings preincubated at 40 °C (2 h) became thermo-tolerant to lethal temperature treatment of 45 °C (2 h) or 47.5 °C (10 min), by protecting the plasmalemma, mitochondria, plastids and nuclei from heat damage. Without preincubation, however, these structures were destroyed.Abbreviations CC Central cylinder - CR Cortex - M Mitochondria - N Nuclei - Nu Nucleoli - P Plastids - RC Root cap - RE Region of elongation - RM Region of meristem     

Agonistic behavior in crayfish in relation to temperature and reproductive period

Summary I examined the relationship between temperature and agonistic behavior in the crayfish Cambarus latimanus LeConte a species which is reproductively active in winter. Crayfish were acclimated for 2 wks at 9.5, 14, 22 and 30°C in summer and at 9.5 and 22°C in winter. Agonistic behavior of pairs of the same sex was recorded for 1 h following acclimation. The entire acclimation, testing, and temperature-readjustment procedure was repeated until all crayfish pairs had been tested at each acclimation temperature.Published information on lobsters and catfish indicate that agonistic behavior is directly related to temperature. In contrast, for C. latimanus in the present study, duration of total agonistic behavior, maximum duration of a single agonistic interaction, and average length of a agonistic encounter were all inversely related to acclimation temperature. I hypothesized that for ectothermic species whose agonistic behavior is closely associated with reproductive processes (including competition for mates) the level of agonism will vary either directly or inversely depending upon whether the reproductive period is cued by increasing or decreasing seasonal temperatures, respectively.     

Time relationship between ambient temperature change and antigen stimulation on immune responses of mice

We investigated the time relationship between ambient temperature change and antigen stimulation on immune responses to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in mice. In the case of a shift from comfortable (25°C) to cold (8°C) temperatures, suppression in the number of splenic plaque-forming cells (PFC) took place mainly when the shift was done between 1 day before and 2 to 4 days after immunization. The suppression of the PVP response lasted for up to a maximum of 6 days when mice were transferred 1 day before immunization. In the case of a temperature shift from 25° to 36.5°C, the suppressive effect was found when the temperature shift was done between 4 days before and 2 days after immunization. The effect lasted longer than that of the temperature shift to cold, i.e., at least 9 days after the temperature shift. Blood corticosterone levels after the temperature shifts corresponded to changes in the immune responses: elevation of the blood corticosterone levels was observed for only the first 3 days after a temperature shift to 8°C but for 10 days after a temperature shift to 36.5°C during the period time of the experiment. These result suggested that blood corticosterone level contributes to the duration of the effects of temperature shifts on immune responses of mice. Furthermore, it appeared that the early stage of the immune response is more susceptible to temperature shifts than the later stage. To explain these results, the terms effective period in the course of physiological adaptation to changed ambient temperature and susceptible period in the course of the immune response, were proposed.     

Binding study of riboflavin-binding protein with riboflavin and its analogues by differential scanning calorimetry

Thermal unfolding parameters of hens' egg-white riboflavin-binding-protein (RBP) were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. Thermal denaturation scans of apoRBP and RBP complexes with riboflavin and its analogues (FMN, N10 DL-glyceryl isoalloxazine, and N10 -hydroxypentyl isoalloxazine) have been measured. It was found that ligand binding causes increase of RBP thermal stability, as manifested by a change of denaturation temperature from 60.8°C for apoRBP to 72.8°C for RBP—Rf complex. For RBP—FMN complex, the denaturation temperature of 73.0°C was even higher than for the RBP—Rf complex. The other two flavin analogues showed transition temperatures in between 66.9°C and 68.8°C, respectively. Analysis of excess heat capacity data showed that the best fit was the sum of two independent thermal transitions. One of the transitions, which contributed 70% to the total heat effect, has transition temperature in the broad range of 60.5–73.2°C; the other transition temperature is in the narrower range of 65.4–71.1°C. The observed transitions can be related to RBP domains.     

The temperature-dependent duration of development and parasitism of three cereal aphid parasitoids, Aphidius ervi, A. rhopalosiphi, and Praon volucre

Temperature dependencies were established for the egg-to-mummy and mummy-to-adult phases, for mummy mortality, and for parasitism of Aphidius ervi Haliday, Aphidius rhopalosiphi De Stefani-Perez, and Praon volucre (Haliday) (Hymenoptera, Aphidiidae), three parasitoids of Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Homoptera, Aphididae), at 8°C, 12°C, 16°C, 20°C, and 25°C on winter wheat (cv. Haven). A physiological model described temperature-dependent development over the full temperature range, whereas a linear model was fitted for data above 8°C and used to estimate the lower temperature thresholds and day-degrees (° D) required for development. The thresholds for A. ervi were 2.2°C for egg-mummy development and 6.6°C for mummy-adult development, those for A. rhopalosiphi were 4.5°C and 7.2°C, and those for P. volucre were 3.8°C and 5.5°C. The time to develop into mummies and adults differed significantly between the three species: A. ervi development into mummies required an average of 159 ° D, while development into adults took an average of 73 ° D. The corresponding average times required for A. rhopalosiphi and P. volucre to develop mummies were 124° D and 126° D, while their development into adults required an average of 70° D and 150° D, respectively. Mummy mortality was 25–35% at 8°C and less at the higher temperatures tested, but began to increase again at 25°C, showing a quadratic relationship between mortality and temperature. Parasitization was very low or, in the case of P. volucre, absent up to 12°C and thereafter increased with increasing temperature. The relationship between parasitization, recorded as percent aphids mummified, and temperature was linear at the temperatures tested and depended on species. A. ervisuperparasitized 11.1% aphids at 20°C and 16.6% aphids at 25°C, whereas superparasitism was low in A. rhopalosiphi and absent in P. volucre. From 16°C to 25°C the P. volucre sex ratio increased. For A. ervi and A. rhopalosiphi there was no trend with temperature, but at 20°C and 25°C it was close to even. Field data for 1996 and 1997 allowed for a comparison of actual and expected emergence of overwintering mummies. In both years, parasitoids were predicted to have emerged from overwintering mummies well in advance of the onset of aphid infestation, and more than a month earlier than the first parasitized aphids were found in winter wheat. Observations from trap plants in other crops supported the predictions of the models. Other factors that can affect biological control by cereal aphid parasitoids are discussed.