Random Mating Between Two Widely Divergent Mitochondrial Lineages of Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae): A Test of Species Limits in a Phosphine-Resistant Stored Product Pest.

Effective pest management relies on accurate delimitation of species and, beyond this, on accurate species identification. Mitochondrial COI sequences are useful for providing initial indications in delimiting species but, despite acknowledged limitations in the method, many studies involving COI sequences and species problems remain unresolved. Here we illustrate how such impasses can be resolved with microsatellite and nuclear sequence data, to assess more directly the amount of gene flow between divergent lineages. We use a population genetics approach to test for random mating between two 8 ± 2% divergent COI lineages of the rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens). This species has become strongly resistant to phosphine, a fumigant used worldwide for disinfesting grain. The possibility of cryptic species would have significant consequences for resistance management, especially if resistance was confined to one mitochondrial lineage. We find no evidence of restricted gene flow or nonrandom mating across the two COI lineages of these beetles, rather we hypothesize that historic population structure associated with early Pleistocene climate changes likely contributed to divergent lineages within this species.

Effects of helium/oxygen and temperature on aerobic metabolism in the marsupial sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps.

Helox (79% helium and 21% oxygen) has often been used for thermobiological studies, primarily because helium is thought to be metabolically inert and to produce no adverse effects other than increasing heat loss. However, these assumptions have been questioned. As basal metabolic rate (BMR) represents maintenance energy requirements for vital body functions, potential physiological effects of helox should be reflected in changes of BMR. In this study, sugar gliders were subjected to both air and helox atmospheres over a wide range of T(a)'s, including the thermoneutral zone (TNZ), to determine (1) whether helox has any influence other than on heat loss and (2) the maximum heat production (HP(max)) and thermal limits of this species. Although thermal conductance in the TNZ increased in helox, BMR was similar in air and helox (0.55+/-0.07 and 0.57+/-0.06 mL g(-1) h(-1), respectively). The TNZ in helox, however, was shifted upwards by about 3 degrees C. Below the TNZ, sugar gliders were able to withstand an effective temperature of -24.7+/-7.3 degrees C with an HP(max) of 3.14+/-0.36 mL g(-1) h(-1). The low effective temperature tolerated by sugar gliders shows that they are competent thermoregulators despite their apparent lack of functional brown fat. Similarities of BMRs in air and helox suggest that the effect of helox is restricted to an increase of heat loss, and, consequently, helox represents a useful tool for thermal physiologists. Moreover, the lack of increase of BMR in helox despite an increase in thermal conductance of sugar gliders suggests that BMR is not a function of body surface.

Seasonal changes in the thermoenergetics of the marsupial sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps.

Little information is available on seasonal changes in thermal physiology and energy expenditure in marsupials. To provide new information on the subject, we quantified how body mass, body composition, metabolic rate, maximum heat production, body temperature and thermal conductance change with season in sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) held in outdoor aviaries. Sugar gliders increased body mass in autumn to a peak in May/June, which was caused to a large extent by an increase in body fat content. Body mass then declined to minimum values in August/September. Resting metabolic rate both below and above the thermoneutral zone (TNZ) was higher in summer than in winter and the lower critical temperature of the TNZ occurred at a higher ambient temperature (Ta) in summer. The basal metabolic rate was as much as 45% below that predicted from allometric equations for placental mammals and was about 15% lower in winter than in summer. In contrast, maximum heat production was raised significantly by about 20% in winter. This, together with an approximately 20% decrease in thermal conductance, resulted in a 13 degrees C reduction of the minimum effective Ta gliders were able to withstand. Our study provides the first evidence that, despite the apparent lack of functional brown adipose tissue, sugar gliders are able to significantly increase heat production in winter. Moreover, the lower thermoregulatory heat production at most TaS in winter, when food in the wild is scarce, should allow them to reduce energy expenditure.

Influence of torpor on daily energy expenditure of the dasyurid marsupial Sminthopsis crassicaudata.

Daily torpor is an energy-conserving mechanism, used by many small marsupials to reduce energy expenditure during adverse environmental conditions. Since little is known about how much energy is actually saved by torpor in marsupials and how this is related to the duration of torpor bouts, we investigated the effect of ambient temperature (Ta) on different metabolic states and the effect of torpor bout duration in Sminthopsis crassicaudata (16 g) on average daily metabolic rate (ADMR). Ta had a significant effect on the active and resting metabolic rates (MR), both being higher at Ta 12 degrees C than Ta 18 degrees C (P < 0.001, t-test). In contrast, the ADMR at Ta 12 degrees C and Ta 18 degrees C did not differ significantly, and it appears that the increased cost for thermoregulation in normothermic active and resting animals at Ta 12 degrees C was compensated by a decrease in MR during torpor. Torpor bout duration was negatively correlated with ADMR. Torpor bouts of 5 hr reduced ADMR by 12-16%. Torpor bouts of more than 10 hr reduced ADMRs by 30-50%. Our study shows that torpor can significantly reduce daily energy expenditure in S. crassicaudata, and this may be important for the survival of this species in the wild.

Renal acid-base metabolism after ischemia.

The response of the kidney to ischemia-induced cellular acidosis was followed over the immediate one hr post-ischemia reflow period. Clearance and extraction experiments as well as measurement of cortical intracellular pH (pHi) were performed on Inactin-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. Arteriovenous concentration differences and para-aminohippurate extraction were obtained by cannulating the left renal vein. Base production was monitored as bicarbonate released into the renal vein and urine; net base production was related to the renal handling of glutamine and ammonia as well as to renal oxygen consumption and pHi. After a 15 min control period, the left renal artery was snared for one-half hr followed by release and four consecutive 15 min reflow periods. During the control period, cortical cell pHi measured by [14C]-5,5-Dimethyl-2,4-Oxazolidinedione distribution was 7.07 +/- 0.08, and Q-O2 was 14.1 +/- 2.2 micromoles/min; neither net glutamine utilization nor net bicarbonate generation occurred. After 30 min of ischemia, renal tissue pH fell to 6.6 +/- 0.15. However, within 45 min of reflow, cortical cell pH returned and exceeded the control value, 7.33 +/- 0.06 vs. 7.15 +/- 0.08. This increase in pHi was associated with a significant rise in cellular metabolic rate, Q-O2 increased to 20.3 +/- 6.4 micromoles/min. Corresponding with cellular alkalosis was a net production of bicarbonate and a net ammonia uptake and glutamine release; urinary acidification was abolished. These results are consistent with a nonexcretory renal metabolic base generating mechanism governing cellular acid base homeostasis following ischemia.