Selected temperatures of an alpine weta Hemideina maori from southern New Zealand
2002; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 29; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/03014223.2002.9518291
ISSN1175-8821
AutoresJenny Rock, Sarah Cook, Tara J. Murray, Jenny Thomas, Ian G. Jamieson,
Tópico(s)Physiological and biochemical adaptations
ResumoAbstract We examined the relationship between thermal preference (selected body temperature or “Tsel") and microhabitat temperature of a nocturnal, alpine weta Hemideina maori (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae), in the southern part of New Zealand. To examine diel variation in thermal preference, we measured Tsel five times over a 24‐h period in the laboratory and compared these temperatures to weta microhabitat temperatures in the wild. Tsel ranged from 4.3 to 29.3°C, but the distribution of temperatures was skewed, towards the cooler end of the thermal gradient, with an overall median and mean of c. 13°C. The frequency of Tsel values was bimodal, with peaks at a relatively narrow range of cool temperatures between 5 and 8°C (33%) and at a slightly broader range of warmer temperatures between 13 and 21 °C (52%). Tsel values did not vary with time of day, but differed significantly between individuals. Comparisons with microhabitat temperature showed that weta at 1250 m a.s.l. on the Rock and Pillar Range, Otago, had only limited opportunity to achieve Tsel and this was only possible during daylight hours, when weta are normally inactive.
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