The supercooling ability of ticks (Acari,Ixodoidea) |
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Authors: | H Dantel W Knülle |
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Institution: | 1. Institut für Zoologie, AG Angewandte Zoologie/?kologie der Tiere, Freie Universit?t Berlin, Haderslebener Strasse 9, D-12163, Berlin, Germany
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Abstract: | The supercooling capacity of nine laboratory- held species of ticks originating from different geographical areas, as well
as five field-collected species from Germany, was investigated. All but one tick species showed mean supercooling points between
about −17 and −23 °C, suggesting that the capacity to supercool to temperatures of ≤−17 °C might be an inherent property of
many tick species unrelated to their geographic origin. Photoperiod did not influence the mean supercooling point in any of
the species and there was also no distinct seasonal pattern of supercooling in seasonally acclimatized Dermacentor marginatus. Thus, the supercooling ability was independent of the presence/absence of diapause. The finding of thermal hysteresis in
D. marginatus hemolymph raises the question of whether or not anti-freeze proteins are involved in the supercooling capacity of that species.
An interspecies comparison revealed a weak negative correlation between relative water content and supercooling point of the
ticks and an even weaker correlation between body mass or body water mass and the supercooling point. Since the ticks exhibited
low supercooling points both before and shortly after feeding, the blood used as food should lack potent ice nucleators.
Accepted: 14 June 1996 |
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Keywords: | Supercooling Cold-hardiness Diapause Ticks Acari |
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