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1 May 2009 Hypoxia Tolerance in Adult and Larval Cicindela Tiger Beetles Varies by Life History but Not Habitat Association
Mathew L. Brust, W. Wyatt Hoback
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Abstract

Flooding exposes terrestrial organisms to severe hypoxia. Among the best- studied insects that are frequently exposed to flooding are tiger beetle (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) larvae. In previous studies with a limited number of species, a correlation was found between habitat and hypoxia tolerance. In the current study, we examined hypoxia tolerance among third instars of six Cicindela species that vary in habitat association; we also tested adult survival of these species. We found that larvae of the different species survived an average of between 60 and 120 h of submersion in severely hypoxic water at 20°C, with larvae that occur in dry sand having somewhat lower survival times. However, among larvae, there was no correlation between survival times and habitat risk of flooding. We found surprisingly high survival times among adult tiger beetles with a range of 10 h to 46 h. Adult Cicindela formosa formosa Say that are associated with dry sand and are active in the spring and fall survived submersion for >40 h, longer than any previously reported adult terrestrial insect exposed to hypoxia at moderate environmental temperatures. The lengthy survival times of adult tiger beetles are likely a result of adaptations to immersion during periods of inactivity. Our study suggests that additional insect species and life stages should be examined for hypoxia tolerance regardless of perceived threat of immersion.

© 2009 Entomological Society of America
Mathew L. Brust and W. Wyatt Hoback "Hypoxia Tolerance in Adult and Larval Cicindela Tiger Beetles Varies by Life History but Not Habitat Association," Annals of the Entomological Society of America 102(3), 462-466, (1 May 2009). https://doi.org/10.1603/008.102.0316
Received: 23 June 2008; Accepted: 1 March 2009; Published: 1 May 2009
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KEYWORDS
Cicindela
flooding
hypoxia
immersion
tiger beetles
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