The oxygen consumption of non-dormant and dormant larvae of Chironomus plumosus (Diptera) |
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Authors: | Gaston Adamek Jürg Fischer |
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Institution: | Institute of Zoology, University of Berne, Baltzerstrasse 3, CH-3012 Berne, Switzerland |
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Abstract: | The physiological expression of a short-day-induced dormancy (Oligopause) of 4th-instar Chironomus plumosus larvae was investigated by measuring the oxygen consumption. By means of a polarographic continuous-flow respirometer the oxygen consumption of single larvae or groups of larvae (up to 5) could be measured continuously over a period of several hours. The oxygen consumption of dormant larvae is lower than in non-dormant larvae: in relation to the individual it is reduced by about , in relation to 1 g of dry weight by about . Dormant larvae are heavier than non-dormant larvae. In the dormant larvae, the proportion of dry weight to total weight is higher than in the non-dormant larvae. The increased proportion of dry weight is composed of a size-specific (dormancy-independent) and a dormancy-specific component. Independent of the sex and dormancy state, the larger larvae have a lower oxygen consumption per weight unit than the smaller larvae. A sex-specific difference can be observed: when animals with identical oxygen consumption per weight unit are compared, the females are considerably heavier than the males. |
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Keywords: | Chironomus dormancy oxygen consumption respirometer body weight |
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