ISSN:
1432-1351
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Between 8 and 14 °C, a range which includes temperatures of caves inhabited bySpeophyes lucidulus Delar, the cold receptor associated with antennal black-hair sensilla in the larvae of this eyeless beetle (Fam. Catopidae) responds to rates of temperature change between −0.007 and +0.007 °C/s with impulse frequencies usually between 0.3 and 12 imp/s (Figs. 1, 2, 5). At a given temperature frequency tends to be higher during cooling than during warming, with an average differential sensitivity of −6 (imp/s)/(0.01 °C/s), or −600 (imp/s)/(°C/s) (Fig. 3). The response is also effected by instantaneous temperature. At a given rate of temperature change the lower the temperature, the higher the frequency, with an average differential sensitivity of −5.3 (imp/s)/ °C (Fig. 4). Because impulse frequency is a continuously decreasing function of both temperature and its rate of change in the ranges encountered roughly 7 m from entrances to caves where the beetle has been found, cooling there is indicated by high and rising frequencies and warming by low and falling frequencies. A comparison of these results with those suggested forPeriplaneta americana (Loftus 1969) indicates that of the two,Speophyes' cold receptor is 8 times more sensitive to ambient temperature and a least 3 times more sensitive to low rate of temperature change.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00612588
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