Comparative water relations of some tropical millipedes
Water content, percentage of total body water lost as a function of time, and cuticular permeability are determined for 10 species of millipedes representing three orders (Polydesmida, Spirobolida and Spirostreptida). Mean water content per cubic centimeter of body mass ranges from 422 mg for Polyde...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Kragujevac Journal of Science |
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| Online Access: | http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1450-9636/2014/1450-96361436185S.pdf |
| Summary: | Water content, percentage of total body water lost as a function of time, and cuticular permeability are determined for 10 species of millipedes representing three orders (Polydesmida, Spirobolida and Spirostreptida). Mean water content per cubic centimeter of body mass ranges from 422 mg for Polydesmopeltis kelaarti to 886 mg for yet undetermined Species B (Spirostreptida: Harpagophoridae). Mean percentage of total body water ranged from 57.46 for Orthomorpha coarctata to 70.21 for P. kelaarti. Mean cuticular permeability ranges from 20.28 μg cm-1h-1mm Hg-1 for Gonoplectus malayusto 82.53 μg cm-1h-1mm Hg- 1for O.coarctata. Cumulative percentage of total body water lost at 20 hour varied widely ranging from 9.35% in G. malayus to 61.64% in O. coarctata. Smaller millipedes (Polydesmida), having lower water reserve, higher CP values and higher rate of percent of TBW lost, are less tolerant to desiccation compared with larger species (Spirobolida and Spirostreptida). Analyzed polydesmids are restricted to hygric environments, whereas, spirobolids and spirostreptids can tolerate desiccation to a large extent and are confined to mesic or xeric habitats. |
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| ISSN: | 1450-9636 2466-5509 |