scholarly journals Cuticle Hydrocarbons Show Plastic Variation under Desiccation in Saline Aquatic Beetles

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 285
Author(s):  
María Botella-Cruz ◽  
Josefa Velasco ◽  
Andrés Millán ◽  
Stefan Hetz ◽  
Susana Pallarés
Keyword(s):  
Water Loss ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Desiccation Stress ◽  
Desiccation Resistance ◽  
Water Beetles ◽  
Physiological Capacity ◽  
Branched Alkanes ◽  
Mediterranean Regions ◽  
Subsequent Exposure ◽  
Acclimation Response

In the context of aridification in Mediterranean regions, desiccation resistance and physiological plasticity will be key traits for the persistence of aquatic insects exposed to increasing desiccation stress. Control of cuticular transpiration through changes in the quantity and composition of epicuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) is one of the main mechanisms of desiccation resistance in insects, but it remains largely unexplored in aquatic ones. We studied acclimation responses to desiccation in adults of two endemic water beetles from distant lineages living in Mediterranean intermittent saline streams: Enochrus jesusarribasi (Hydrophilidae) and Nebrioporus baeticus (Dytiscidae). Cuticular water loss and CHC composition were measured in specimens exposed to a prior non-lethal desiccation stress, allowed to recover and exposed to a subsequent desiccation treatment. E. jesusarribasi showed a beneficial acclimation response to desiccation: pre-desiccated individuals reduced cuticular water loss rate in a subsequent exposure by increasing the relative abundance of cuticular methyl-branched compounds, longer chain alkanes and branched alkanes. In contrast, N. baeticus lacked acclimation capacity for controlling water loss and therefore may have a lower physiological capacity to cope with increasing aridity. These results are relevant to understanding biochemical adaptations to drought stress in inland waters in an evolutionary and ecological context.

scholarly journals Divergence of Desiccation-Related Traits in Sitobion avenae from Northwestern China

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 626
Author(s):  
Yujing Yang ◽  
Deguang Liu ◽  
Xiaoming Liu ◽  
Biyao Wang ◽  
Xiaoqin Shi
Keyword(s):  
Survival Time ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Sitobion Avenae ◽  
Northwestern China ◽  
Desiccation Stress ◽  
High Plasticity ◽  
Desiccation Resistance ◽  
Branched Alkanes ◽  
Resistant Genotypes ◽  
Loss Rates

The impact of drought on insects has become increasingly evident in the context of global climate change, but the physiological mechanisms of aphids’ responses to desiccating environments are still not well understood. We sampled the wheat aphid Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from arid areas of northwestern China. Both desiccation-resistant and -nonresistant genotypes were identified, providing direct evidence of genetic divergence in desiccation resistance of S. avenae. Resistant genotypes of wingless S. avenae showed longer survival time and LT50 under the desiccation stress (i.e., 10% relative humidity) than nonresistant genotypes, and wingless individuals tended to have higher desiccation resistance than winged ones. Both absolute and relative water contents did not differ between the two kinds of genotypes. Resistant genotypes had lower water loss rates than nonresistant genotypes for both winged and wingless individuals, suggesting that modulation of water loss rates could be the primary strategy in resistance of this aphid against desiccation stress. Contents of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) (especially methyl-branched alkanes) showed significant increase for both resistant and nonresistant genotypes after exposure to the desiccation stress for 24 h. Under desiccation stress, survival time was positively correlated with contents of methyl-branched alkanes for resistant genotypes. Thus, the content of methyl-branched alkanes and their high plasticity could be closely linked to water loss rate and desiccation resistance in S. avenae. Our results provide insights into fundamental aspects and underlying mechanisms of desiccation resistance in aphids, and have significant implications for the evolution of aphid populations in the context of global warming.

Using laboratory selection for desiccation resistance to examine the relationship between respiratory pattern and water loss in insects.

1998 ◽  
Vol 201 (21) ◽  
pp. 2945-2952 ◽  
Author(s):  
A E Williams ◽  
M R Rose ◽  
T J Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Respiratory Pattern ◽  
Desiccation Resistance ◽  
Water Loss Rate ◽  
Laboratory Selection ◽  
Selection For ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Co2 Release

We conducted concurrent measurements of rates of CO2 and H2O release from individual fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster taken from populations subjected to three different selective regimes: (1) populations selected for resistance to desiccation (D flies); (2) populations maintained as their controls (C flies); and (3) the ancestral populations of the D and C populations (O flies). In the D flies, water loss rates were significantly reduced, the standard error of the regression (SER) of the CO2 release pattern measured over the survival period of the flies was increased, and the ratio of CO2 loss to H2O loss (VCO2/VH2O) was increased. Correlations across all 15 populations from the three selection treatments indicate that survival time was negatively correlated with water loss rate, positively correlated with the SER of CO2 release and positively correlated with the VCO2/VH2O ratio. We did not, however, find a significant correlation between the SER of CO2 release and rates of water loss or the VCO2/VH2O ratio.

scholarly journals Response to Multiple Stressors: Enhanced Tolerance of Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to Heat and Desiccation Stress through Acclimation

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji Huang ◽  
Ming-Xiu Liu ◽  
Yang Zhang ◽  
Zai-Yin Kuang ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Mite Species ◽  
Desiccation Stress ◽  
Acclimation Temperature ◽  
C 50

Organisms are always confronted with multiple stressors simultaneously. Combinations of stressors, rather than single stressor, may be more appropriate in evaluating the stress they experience. N. barkeri is one of predatory mite species that are commercialized for controlling spider mites. However, their biological control efficiency was often reduced because of high temperature and desiccation in summer. To understand how to improve the tolerance of N. barkeri to combined heat and desiccation stress, we pre-exposed the adult female of N. barkeri to high temperature, desiccation and high temperature × desiccation stress for acclimation. After proper recovery time, mites were subjected to high temperature × desiccation stress again to detect the acclimation effects. The results are as follows: (1) No decrease in mortality rate were observed under high temperature × desiccation stress after heat acclimation. Instead, it increased significantly with acclimation temperature and time. (2) Dehydration acclimation both at 25 °C and high temperatures reduced mortality rate under high temperature × desiccation stress. Mortality rate was only significantly correlated with the amount of water loss, but not with temperature or water loss rate in acclimation, suggesting the increased tolerance is related to dehydration stress rather than heat stress. Among all acclimations, chronic dehydration at 25 °C, 50% relative humidity were the most effective treatment. This study indicated dehydration acclimation is effective to enhance tolerance of N. barkeri to combined heat and desiccation stress, which can improve the efficiency of biological control under multiple stressors.

scholarly journals Physiological, morphological and ecological traits drive desiccation resistance in north temperate dung beetles

BMC Zoology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice Nervo ◽  
Angela Roggero ◽  
Dan Chamberlain ◽  
Enrico Caprio ◽  
Antonio Rolando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Availability ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Desiccation Resistance ◽  
Phylogenetic Relatedness ◽  
Water Loss Rate ◽  
Nesting Behaviour ◽  
Loss Tolerance

Abstract Background Increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns threaten the existence of many organisms. It is therefore informative to identify the functional traits that underlie differences in desiccation resistance to understand the response of different species to changes in water availability resulting from climate change. We used adult dung beetles as model species due to their importance to ecosystem services. We investigated: (i) the effect of physiological (water loss rate, water loss tolerance, body water content), morphological (body mass) and ecological (nesting behaviour) traits on desiccation resistance; (ii) the role of phylogenetic relatedness in the above associations; and, (iii) whether relatively large or small individuals within a species have similar desiccation resistance and whether these responses are consistent across species. Results Desiccation resistance decreased with increasing water loss rate and increased with increasing water loss tolerance (i.e. proportion of initial water content lost at the time of death). A lack of consistent correlation between these traits due to phylogenetic relatedness suggests that the relationship is not determined by a shared evolutionary history. The advantage of a large body size in favouring desiccation resistance depended on the nesting behaviour of the dung beetles. In rollers (one species), large body sizes increased desiccation resistance, while in tunnelers and dwellers, desiccation resistance seemed not to be dependent on body mass. The phylogenetic correlation between desiccation resistance and nesting strategies was significant. Within each species, large individuals showed greater resistance to desiccation, and these responses were consistent across species. Conclusions Resistance to desiccation was explained mainly by the dung beetles’ ability to reduce water loss rate (avoidance) and to tolerate water loss (tolerance). A reduction in water availability may impose a selection pressure on body size that varies based on nesting strategies, even though these responses may be phylogenetically constrained. Changes in water availability are more likely to affect dweller species, and hence the ecosystem services they provide.

scholarly journals Aquatic insects dealing with dehydration: do desiccation resistance traits differ in species with contrasting habitat preferences?

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Pallarés ◽  
Josefa Velasco ◽  
Andrés Millán ◽  
David T. Bilton ◽  
Paula Arribas
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Fresh Mass ◽  
Freshwater Species ◽  
Desiccation Resistance ◽  
Water Loss Rate ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Resistance Traits

Background. Desiccation resistance shapes the distribution of terrestrial insects at multiple spatial scales. However, responses to desiccation stress have been poorly studied in aquatic groups, despite their potential role in constraining their distribution and diversification, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Methods. We examined desiccation resistance in adults of four congeneric water beetle species (Enochrus, family Hydrophilidae) with contrasting habitat specificity (lentic vs lotic systems and different salinity optima from fresh- to hypersaline waters).We measured survival, recovery capacity and key traits related to desiccation resistance (fresh mass, % water content, % cuticle content and water loss rate) under controlled exposure to desiccation, and explored their variability within and between species. Results. Meso- and hypersaline species were more resistant to desiccation than freshwater and hyposaline ones, showing significantly lower water loss rates and higher water content. No clear patterns in desiccation resistance traits were observed between lotic and lentic species. Intraspecifically, water loss rate was positively related to specimens’ initial % water content, but not to fresh mass or % cuticle content, suggesting that the dynamic mechanism controlling water loss is mainly regulated by the amount of body water available. Discussion. Our results support previous hypotheses suggesting that the evolution of desiccation resistance is associated with the colonization of saline habitats by aquatic beetles. The interespecific patterns observed in Enochrus also suggest that freshwater species may be more vulnerable than saline ones to drought intensification expected under climate change in semi-arid regions such as the Mediterranean Basin.

scholarly journals Aquatic insects dealing with dehydration: do desiccation resistance traits differ in species with contrasting habitat preferences?

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Pallarés ◽  
Josefa Velasco ◽  
Andrés Millán ◽  
David T. Bilton ◽  
Paula Arribas
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Fresh Mass ◽  
Freshwater Species ◽  
Desiccation Resistance ◽  
Water Loss Rate ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Resistance Traits

BackgroundDesiccation resistance shapes the distribution of terrestrial insects at multiple spatial scales. However, responses to drying stress have been poorly studied in aquatic groups, despite their potential role in constraining their distribution and diversification, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.MethodsWe examined desiccation resistance in adults of four congeneric water beetle species (Enochrus, family Hydrophilidae) with contrasting habitat specificity (lenticvs.lotic systems and different salinity optima from fresh- to hypersaline waters). We measured survival, recovery capacity and key traits related to desiccation resistance (fresh mass, % water content, % cuticle content and water loss rate) under controlled exposure to desiccation, and explored their variability within and between species.ResultsMeso- and hypersaline species were more resistant to desiccation than freshwater and hyposaline ones, showing significantly lower water loss rates and higher water content. No clear patterns in desiccation resistance traits were observed between lotic and lentic species. Intraspecifically, water loss rate was positively related to specimens’ initial % water content, but not to fresh mass or % cuticle content, suggesting that the dynamic mechanism controlling water loss is mainly regulated by the amount of body water available.DiscussionOur results support previous hypotheses suggesting that the evolution of desiccation resistance is associated with the colonization of saline habitats by aquatic beetles. The interespecific patterns observed inEnochrusalso suggest that freshwater species may be more vulnerable than saline ones to drought intensification expected under climate change in semi-arid regions such as the Mediterranean Basin.

scholarly journals Aquatic insects dealing with dehydration: do desiccation resistance traits differ in species with contrasting habitat preferences?

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Pallarés ◽  
Josefa Velasco ◽  
Andrés Millán ◽  
David T. Bilton ◽  
Paula Arribas
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Fresh Mass ◽  
Freshwater Species ◽  
Desiccation Resistance ◽  
Water Loss Rate ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Resistance Traits

Background. Desiccation resistance shapes the distribution of terrestrial insects at multiple spatial scales. However, responses to desiccation stress have been poorly studied in aquatic groups, despite their potential role in constraining their distribution and diversification, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Methods. We examined desiccation resistance in adults of four congeneric water beetle species (Enochrus, family Hydrophilidae) with contrasting habitat specificity (lentic vs lotic systems and different salinity optima from fresh- to hypersaline waters).We measured survival, recovery capacity and key traits related to desiccation resistance (fresh mass, % water content, % cuticle content and water loss rate) under controlled exposure to desiccation, and explored their variability within and between species. Results. Meso- and hypersaline species were more resistant to desiccation than freshwater and hyposaline ones, showing significantly lower water loss rates and higher water content. No clear patterns in desiccation resistance traits were observed between lotic and lentic species. Intraspecifically, water loss rate was positively related to specimens’ initial % water content, but not to fresh mass or % cuticle content, suggesting that the dynamic mechanism controlling water loss is mainly regulated by the amount of body water available. Discussion. Our results support previous hypotheses suggesting that the evolution of desiccation resistance is associated with the colonization of saline habitats by aquatic beetles. The interespecific patterns observed in Enochrus also suggest that freshwater species may be more vulnerable than saline ones to drought intensification expected under climate change in semi-arid regions such as the Mediterranean Basin.

scholarly journals Desiccation resistance in Central European carabid species: effects of body size and habitat preferences

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliška Baranovská ◽  
Petr Chajma ◽  
Michal Knapp
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Desiccation Resistance ◽  
Water Loss Rate

Water is the limiting factor for all organisms. Due to global climate change, prolonged drought periods are predicted and the importance of drought-related research is increasing. Water, together with temperature, determines the abundance and spatial distribution of animals. In this study, we investigated the effects of body size and habitat preference on desiccation resistance of carabid beetles under controlled laboratory condition. Firstly, we measured the longevity of 641 carabid individuals belonging to 18 species. These beetles were exposed to extremely low relative humidity (ca. 15-20%) using silica gel bags within experimental Petri dishes. Secondly, the rate of water loss was measured for 236 individuals belonging to eight carabid species. Rate of water loss was measured using exposition to the same extremely dry conditions, but only for 12 hours. Body size was represented by elytron length and live weight was also measured to analyse effects of body condition (weight corrected for structural size). Experimental beetles were collected in different habitats ranging from extremely dry to very wet conditions. Carabids were provided with food and water ad libitum for at least 7 days prior to the experiments. All experiments were performed using a climatic chamber set to a long day (16L:8D) and the constant temperature of 20°C. The preliminary results show that species from wet habitats were more sensitive to desiccation and larger species were more resistant (survived for a longer time) compared to smaller species. Species from wet habitats had higher water loss rate compared to species originating from dry habitats. At the intraspecific level, individuals with larger body size (elytron length) survived longer than smaller individuals. Interestingly, the rate of water loss was affected by initial body condition and sex but not by structural body size at the intraspecific level. The most resistant species was Pseudoophonus rufipes. This species was not superior to other species with respect to water loss rate but it had the highest relative water content. It is also possible that P. rufipes has some other physiological or behavioural adaptation enabling a better survival under stressful, dry condition. This issue could be investigated in a future study.

scholarly journals Correlation of Intracellular Trehalose Concentration with Desiccation Resistance of Soil Escherichia coli Populations

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (20) ◽  
pp. 7407-7413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Zhang ◽  
Tao Yan
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Potassium Acetate ◽  
Desiccation Stress ◽  
Desiccation Resistance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Soil Desiccation ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Organic Solute ◽  
Trehalose Synthesis

ABSTRACTNaturalized soilEscherichia colipopulations need to resist common soil desiccation stress in order to inhabit soil environments. In this study, four representative soilE. colistrains and one lab strain, MG1655, were tested for desiccation resistance via die-off experiments in sterile quartz sand under a potassium acetate-induced desiccation condition. The desiccation stress caused significantly lower die-off rates of the four soil strains (0.17 to 0.40 day−1) than that of MG1655 (0.85 day−1). Cellular responses, including extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, exogenous glycine betaine (GB) uptake, and intracellular compatible organic solute synthesis, were quantified and compared under the desiccation and hydrated control conditions. GB uptake appeared not to be a specific desiccation response, while EPS production showed considerable variability among theE. colistrains. AllE. colistrains produced more intracellular trehalose, proline, and glutamine under the desiccation condition than the hydrated control, and only the trehalose concentration exhibited a significant correlation with the desiccation-contributed die-off coefficients (Spearman's ρ = −1.0;P= 0.02).De novotrehalose synthesis was further determined for 15E. colistrains from both soil and nonsoil sources to determine its prevalence as a specific desiccation response. MostE. colistrains (14/15) synthesized significantly more trehalose under the desiccation condition, and the soilE. colistrains produced more trehalose (106.5 ± 44.9 μmol/mg of protein [mean ± standard deviation]) than the nonsoil reference strains (32.5 ± 10.5 μmol/mg of protein).

scholarly journals Differences in Leaf Cuticle Structure and Efficacy among Eastern Redbud and Mexican Redbud Phenotypes

1995 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jimmy L. Tipton ◽  
Marcia White
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Abaxial Surface ◽  
Cercis Canadensis ◽  
Area Basis ◽  
Detached Leaves ◽  
Eastern Redbud ◽  
Mass Basis

The objective of this study was to compare the structure and efficacy in terms of retarding cuticular transpiration of leaf cuticles from eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis L.) and dull-leaf and glossy-leaf Mexican redbud [Cercis canadensis var. mexicana (Rose) M. Hopk.]. Leaves of Mexican redbud exhibited several xeromorphic characteristics compared to eastern redbud: a smaller, thicker leaf with thicker cuticles, more cuticular wax, a higher specific leaf mass, and greater hydrated water content on a leaf area basis. Mexican redbuds with a glossy leaf differed from those with a dull leaf only in a thicker adaxial cuticle lacking wax crystallite on the surface. Epicuticular wax crystallite were present on the abaxial surface of all leaves examined. Detached leaves of eastern redbud had a higher water loss rate than those of Mexican redbud only on a dry mass basis, not on a leaf area basis. There was no difference in the rate of water loss by detached leaves of glossy-leaf and dull-leaf Mexican redbuds after 4 hours.

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