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Oxygen consumption and temperature acclimation in the northern prairie swift Sceloporus undulatus garmani from Kansas
Camp. Biochem. Phwioi. Vol. 71A. No. 4. pp. 61 I to 613. 1982 Printed in Great Britain
03M).Y629/82;04061 I-O3603.@O/T3 Pergamon Press Lid
OXYGEN CONSUMPTION AND TEMPERATURE ACCLIMATION IN THE NORTHERN PRAIRIE SWIFT S~E~~P~RUS U~DU~A~US GARLAND FROM KANSAS J. L, HUGHES,L. C. FITZPATRICK,G. W. FERWSON* and T. L. BEI~NGER Dept. Bioiogical Sciences and Institute of Applied Sciences, North Texas State University, Denton, TX 76203, U.S.A. *Department Biological Sciences, Texas Christian University, Ft. Worth, TX 76129, U.S.A. (Receioed 30 July 1981) 0, consumption rates of Sceloporus undulatus garmani were determined diurnally and nocturnally at acclimation temperatures of 20, 25, 30 and 35°C. 2. Day and night rates increased significantly with increases in temperature except between 30 and 35”C, where Qlos were 1.2 and 1.8 respectively. 3. Partial metabolic compensation between 30 and 35°C corresponded with the northern prairie swift’s range (3&37”C) of diurnal body temperjtures during its seasonal active period (May-October). 4. Daytime rates were significantly higher (X = 1.85 times) than night-time rates at all temperatures. Abstract-l.
INTRODUCTION
ma1 air and soil temperatures recorded daily from July through October and during several collecting The northern prairie swift, Scelo~orus u~ula~~ gartrips in May and June. Cloaca1 temperatures, taken mani, ranges predominantly through eastern Colorwith a Bailey electronic thermometer and ambient ado, Kansas, southern Nebraska and Oklahoma. soil-air temperatures with Mini-Max and mercury During their period of activity (cu. May-October), thermometers, are shown in Fig. 1. Body temperaswifts in Kansas experience diurnal changes in their tures during the prairie swifts’ active period (ea. Maybody temperature from 20-25°C at night to 33-37°C October) were regulated behaviorally during the day during the day. The objective of this study was to at an apparent eccritic temperature of cu. 3435°C determine: (1) standard metabolic rates (Bennett & and assumed to approximate mean soil temperature Dawson, 1976); (2) effects of normally encountered during the night. Swifts retreated under rocks, logs ambient and observed body tem~ratures on metaand litter during the evenings. Thus, during their bolic rates: (3) patterns of metabolic thermal acciimaseasonal active period northern prairie swifts in tion; and (4) diurnal variation in metabolic rates in s. Kansas generally experienced nocturnal body temundulatus garrnani from Kansas. peratures of cu. 20-25°C and diurnal temperatures of cu. 33-37°C. MATERIALSAND METHODS Figure 2 shows 0, consumption rate-temperature curves during the day (routine rates) and night (stanEnergy metabolism was measured indirectly as 0, condard rates). Table 1 gives the specific rates and body sumption following Dutton & Fitzpatrick (1975) in 30 weights for each group. All rates, except at 2S”C, are prairie swifts collected from Stafford County, Kansas. After close to predicted values using mass-rate regression transfer to North Texas State University, prairie swifts were separated into acclimation groups of 20, 25 and 30°C. equations for lizards presented by Bennett & Dawson Body weight of the 10 individuals in each group were not (1976). Both day and night rates were significantly significantly different (ANOVA; P < 0.05). Each group was affected by acclimation temperature (P < 0.05; oneheld for 2 weeks in environmenta chambers at its respectway ANOVA). Daytime O2 consumption rates were ive acclimation temperature and a 12 hr: 12 hr 1ight:dark significantly (P < 0.05; paired t-tests) higher than cycle. Prairie swifts were supplied with water daily and Fed night-time rates (1.5, 2.4, 1.9 and 1.6 times higher at mealworms ad libitum until 4 days prior to 0s consump 20,25, 30 and 35°C respectively). The mean difference tion measurements. Rates of 0, consumption were between routine diurnal and standard nocturnal rates measured in the dark at 24GO-0600hr and in the light at (1.85) approximates the value of two frequently used ~~17~ of the same day at each group’s acclimation to extrapolate standard rates to field rates (e.g. Bentemperature. The 20°C group was re-acclimated to 35°C and its 0, rates determined at that temperature. nett & Nagy, 1977). Paired t-test comparisons demonstrated significant differences in 0, consumption rates between 20 and 25, and 25 and 30°C (P < 0.05), but RESULTS AND DISCUSSION not between 30 and 35°C for both diurnal and nocturnal measurements. Qras below two indicate partial Test temperatures were based on deep cloaca1 body metabolic compensation or capacity acclimation temperatures of 64 active prairiz swifts collected from between 30 and 35°C during both day and night. This May through October 1979 (X + 95%CL = 34.4 + range of metabolic homeostasis includes the apparent 0.28; mode, 34; range, 30-37°C) and maximal/minj-
J. L. HUGHES et trl.
Fig. I. Mean and range of monthly mean daytime cloaca1 temperatures
maximal air (A), soil (0), and minimal air (A) temperatures and (0) of active Sceloporu.s undulutus garmani in Stafford Co., Kansas. 1
20
M
25
Acchmamnand
Experimental
35
Temperature
‘C
Fig. 2. Oxygen consumption acclimation-rate temperature curves for Sc&porus undulatus gurmani acclimated and measured at 20. 25, 30 and 35’C during daytime (open rectangle) and night-time (solid rectangle) expressed semilogarithmically as means k 957; CL. Qlos are given above the daytime and below the night-time curves respectively.
Table 1. Means + SD weights (g) and means + 95:; CL O2 consumption rates (~1 O2 g- ’ hr- ‘) of Sceloporus undulatus garmani acclimated and measured nocturnally and diurnally at 20, 25, 30 and 35°C O2 consumption N 10
10 10 10
Weight(g) 4.10 3.26 4.04 4.03
+ + + +
1.52 1.36 1.29 1.38
Temperature 20 25 30 35
Day 59 281 502 552
& + & +
Night 11 90 108 108
38 119 261 355
+ 7 I25 + 23 + 11
Day/night 1.5 2.4 1.9 1.6
O2 consumption
and temperature acclimation in the swift
eccritic and range of diurnal body temperatures observed in active prairie swifts during our study. Low metabolic sensitivity (low Qlos) within the eccritic body temperature range is adaptive by augmenting behavioral thermoregulation in maintaining energy homeostasis during daytime activity. High metabolic sensitivity (high Qtos) at lower temperatures conserves energy at night and facilitates swifts becoming active in the morning as they emerge from nocturnal refugia where ambient temperatures are below their range of activity. Acknowledgements-We
613
BENNETTA. F. & NAGY K. A. (1977) Energy expenditure in
free-ranging lizards. Ecology 58, 697-700. CRENSHAWJ. W. (1955) The life history of the southern spiny lizard, Sceloporous undulatus undulatus Latreille. Am. Mid. Nat. 55, 257-298. DERICKSON K. W. (1976) Ecological and physiological
aspects of reproductive strategies in two lizards. Ecology 57,44-448. DUTTONR. H. & FITZPATRICKJ. C. (1975) Metabolic compensation seasonal temperatures in the rusty lizard Sceloporous olivaceus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 51A, 309-m318. FERGUSONG. W. & BOHLENC. H. f 1972) The regulation of
prairie swift lizard populations-a
progress reiort. Proc.
received support from several NTSU faculty research grants to L. C. Fitzpatrick and T. L. Beitinger, and NSF grant DEB-790512 support to G. W. Ferguson.
Midwestern Prairie Conf 3, 69-73. FERGUSONG. W., BOHLENC. H. & W~OLLEY H. P. (1980) Sceioporus u~du~atus: Comparative life history and regu-
REFERENCES
TINKLE D. W. (1972) The dynamics of a Utah population of Sceloporus undulatus. Hepetologica 28, 351-3.59. TINKLE, D. W. & BALLINCERR. E. (1972) Sceloporws unduiatus: A study of intraspecific demography of a lizard. Ecoloav 53. 570-584. VINEGAR”M.’ B. (1975) Life history phenomena in two populations of the lizard Sceloporus undulatus in Southwestern New Mexico. Am. Mid. Nat. 93, 388-402.
BENNETTA. F. & DAWSONW. R. (1976) Reptilian metabolism. In Biology of the Reptilia, Vol. 5 (Edited by GANS
C.), 556 pp. Academic Press, New York.
lation of a Kansas population. Ecology 61, 313-322.
03M).Y629/82;04061 I-O3603.@O/T3 Pergamon Press Lid
OXYGEN CONSUMPTION AND TEMPERATURE ACCLIMATION IN THE NORTHERN PRAIRIE SWIFT S~E~~P~RUS U~DU~A~US GARLAND FROM KANSAS J. L, HUGHES,L. C. FITZPATRICK,G. W. FERWSON* and T. L. BEI~NGER Dept. Bioiogical Sciences and Institute of Applied Sciences, North Texas State University, Denton, TX 76203, U.S.A. *Department Biological Sciences, Texas Christian University, Ft. Worth, TX 76129, U.S.A. (Receioed 30 July 1981) 0, consumption rates of Sceloporus undulatus garmani were determined diurnally and nocturnally at acclimation temperatures of 20, 25, 30 and 35°C. 2. Day and night rates increased significantly with increases in temperature except between 30 and 35”C, where Qlos were 1.2 and 1.8 respectively. 3. Partial metabolic compensation between 30 and 35°C corresponded with the northern prairie swift’s range (3&37”C) of diurnal body temperjtures during its seasonal active period (May-October). 4. Daytime rates were significantly higher (X = 1.85 times) than night-time rates at all temperatures. Abstract-l.
INTRODUCTION
ma1 air and soil temperatures recorded daily from July through October and during several collecting The northern prairie swift, Scelo~orus u~ula~~ gartrips in May and June. Cloaca1 temperatures, taken mani, ranges predominantly through eastern Colorwith a Bailey electronic thermometer and ambient ado, Kansas, southern Nebraska and Oklahoma. soil-air temperatures with Mini-Max and mercury During their period of activity (cu. May-October), thermometers, are shown in Fig. 1. Body temperaswifts in Kansas experience diurnal changes in their tures during the prairie swifts’ active period (ea. Maybody temperature from 20-25°C at night to 33-37°C October) were regulated behaviorally during the day during the day. The objective of this study was to at an apparent eccritic temperature of cu. 3435°C determine: (1) standard metabolic rates (Bennett & and assumed to approximate mean soil temperature Dawson, 1976); (2) effects of normally encountered during the night. Swifts retreated under rocks, logs ambient and observed body tem~ratures on metaand litter during the evenings. Thus, during their bolic rates: (3) patterns of metabolic thermal acciimaseasonal active period northern prairie swifts in tion; and (4) diurnal variation in metabolic rates in s. Kansas generally experienced nocturnal body temundulatus garrnani from Kansas. peratures of cu. 20-25°C and diurnal temperatures of cu. 33-37°C. MATERIALSAND METHODS Figure 2 shows 0, consumption rate-temperature curves during the day (routine rates) and night (stanEnergy metabolism was measured indirectly as 0, condard rates). Table 1 gives the specific rates and body sumption following Dutton & Fitzpatrick (1975) in 30 weights for each group. All rates, except at 2S”C, are prairie swifts collected from Stafford County, Kansas. After close to predicted values using mass-rate regression transfer to North Texas State University, prairie swifts were separated into acclimation groups of 20, 25 and 30°C. equations for lizards presented by Bennett & Dawson Body weight of the 10 individuals in each group were not (1976). Both day and night rates were significantly significantly different (ANOVA; P < 0.05). Each group was affected by acclimation temperature (P < 0.05; oneheld for 2 weeks in environmenta chambers at its respectway ANOVA). Daytime O2 consumption rates were ive acclimation temperature and a 12 hr: 12 hr 1ight:dark significantly (P < 0.05; paired t-tests) higher than cycle. Prairie swifts were supplied with water daily and Fed night-time rates (1.5, 2.4, 1.9 and 1.6 times higher at mealworms ad libitum until 4 days prior to 0s consump 20,25, 30 and 35°C respectively). The mean difference tion measurements. Rates of 0, consumption were between routine diurnal and standard nocturnal rates measured in the dark at 24GO-0600hr and in the light at (1.85) approximates the value of two frequently used ~~17~ of the same day at each group’s acclimation to extrapolate standard rates to field rates (e.g. Bentemperature. The 20°C group was re-acclimated to 35°C and its 0, rates determined at that temperature. nett & Nagy, 1977). Paired t-test comparisons demonstrated significant differences in 0, consumption rates between 20 and 25, and 25 and 30°C (P < 0.05), but RESULTS AND DISCUSSION not between 30 and 35°C for both diurnal and nocturnal measurements. Qras below two indicate partial Test temperatures were based on deep cloaca1 body metabolic compensation or capacity acclimation temperatures of 64 active prairiz swifts collected from between 30 and 35°C during both day and night. This May through October 1979 (X + 95%CL = 34.4 + range of metabolic homeostasis includes the apparent 0.28; mode, 34; range, 30-37°C) and maximal/minj-
J. L. HUGHES et trl.
Fig. I. Mean and range of monthly mean daytime cloaca1 temperatures
maximal air (A), soil (0), and minimal air (A) temperatures and (0) of active Sceloporu.s undulutus garmani in Stafford Co., Kansas. 1
20
M
25
Acchmamnand
Experimental
35
Temperature
‘C
Fig. 2. Oxygen consumption acclimation-rate temperature curves for Sc&porus undulatus gurmani acclimated and measured at 20. 25, 30 and 35’C during daytime (open rectangle) and night-time (solid rectangle) expressed semilogarithmically as means k 957; CL. Qlos are given above the daytime and below the night-time curves respectively.
Table 1. Means + SD weights (g) and means + 95:; CL O2 consumption rates (~1 O2 g- ’ hr- ‘) of Sceloporus undulatus garmani acclimated and measured nocturnally and diurnally at 20, 25, 30 and 35°C O2 consumption N 10
10 10 10
Weight(g) 4.10 3.26 4.04 4.03
+ + + +
1.52 1.36 1.29 1.38
Temperature 20 25 30 35
Day 59 281 502 552
& + & +
Night 11 90 108 108
38 119 261 355
+ 7 I25 + 23 + 11
Day/night 1.5 2.4 1.9 1.6
O2 consumption
and temperature acclimation in the swift
eccritic and range of diurnal body temperatures observed in active prairie swifts during our study. Low metabolic sensitivity (low Qlos) within the eccritic body temperature range is adaptive by augmenting behavioral thermoregulation in maintaining energy homeostasis during daytime activity. High metabolic sensitivity (high Qtos) at lower temperatures conserves energy at night and facilitates swifts becoming active in the morning as they emerge from nocturnal refugia where ambient temperatures are below their range of activity. Acknowledgements-We
613
BENNETTA. F. & NAGY K. A. (1977) Energy expenditure in
free-ranging lizards. Ecology 58, 697-700. CRENSHAWJ. W. (1955) The life history of the southern spiny lizard, Sceloporous undulatus undulatus Latreille. Am. Mid. Nat. 55, 257-298. DERICKSON K. W. (1976) Ecological and physiological
aspects of reproductive strategies in two lizards. Ecology 57,44-448. DUTTONR. H. & FITZPATRICKJ. C. (1975) Metabolic compensation seasonal temperatures in the rusty lizard Sceloporous olivaceus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 51A, 309-m318. FERGUSONG. W. & BOHLENC. H. f 1972) The regulation of
prairie swift lizard populations-a
progress reiort. Proc.
received support from several NTSU faculty research grants to L. C. Fitzpatrick and T. L. Beitinger, and NSF grant DEB-790512 support to G. W. Ferguson.
Midwestern Prairie Conf 3, 69-73. FERGUSONG. W., BOHLENC. H. & W~OLLEY H. P. (1980) Sceioporus u~du~atus: Comparative life history and regu-
REFERENCES
TINKLE D. W. (1972) The dynamics of a Utah population of Sceloporus undulatus. Hepetologica 28, 351-3.59. TINKLE, D. W. & BALLINCERR. E. (1972) Sceloporws unduiatus: A study of intraspecific demography of a lizard. Ecoloav 53. 570-584. VINEGAR”M.’ B. (1975) Life history phenomena in two populations of the lizard Sceloporus undulatus in Southwestern New Mexico. Am. Mid. Nat. 93, 388-402.
BENNETTA. F. & DAWSONW. R. (1976) Reptilian metabolism. In Biology of the Reptilia, Vol. 5 (Edited by GANS
C.), 556 pp. Academic Press, New York.
lation of a Kansas population. Ecology 61, 313-322.