Water intake by the adult mayflyEpeorus ikanosis (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae) and its effect on their longevity |
| |
Authors: | Yasuhiro Takemon |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, 606 Kyoto, Japan;(2) Present address: Department of Life Sciences, University of Osaka Prefecture, Gakuen-cho, 593 Sakai, Osaka, Japan |
| |
Abstract: | Water drinking habits during flight in adult mayflies ofEpeorus ikanonis Takahashi were observed and the effect of water intake on their longevity was examined. The study was carried out in a mountain
stream in western Japan. Adult males collected a water droplet under the head capsule while alighting on the water surface
and consumed it after moving to nearby riparian vegetation. The amount of water intake was experimentally estimated to be
9.7% of the bodyweight for males. Although females did not show the water drinking behavior in the field, they imbibed as
much as 5.5% of the bodyweight of water in an experimental situation. Morphological observation of the mouthparts revealed
that the water was drawn in through the pits at the base of the labrum. In the field caging experiment, males with a water
supply had a substantially longer life span than those without. Increase in adult life span by drinking water was less marked
in females. Multiple copulation was observed in both sexes during the experiment. The water drinking behavior of the males
may closely relate to mating success through increased longevity. Variation in the longevity of adult mayflies was discussed
with regard to the possibility of water intake.
This paper forms part of a PhD thesis submitted to the Department of Zoology in Kyoto University (1990). |
| |
Keywords: | adult longevity mayfly mouthparts multiple copulation water intake |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|