Environmental temperature, X-irradiation and ageing in insects

The adult life span of Myzus persicae was determined under different temperature conditions ranging from 4° to 28°, or after X-ray exposure of 4 to 40 kR, and lastly under a combination of these two physical factors. In good agreement with Maynard-Smith's ‘thresh-hold theory’ of insect ageing,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental gerontology 1975, Vol.10 (6), p.333-340
Main Author: De Reggi, Max L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Animals
Aphids - physiology
Aphids - radiation effects
Myzus persicae
Radiation Effects
Temperature
X-Rays
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Summary:The adult life span of Myzus persicae was determined under different temperature conditions ranging from 4° to 28°, or after X-ray exposure of 4 to 40 kR, and lastly under a combination of these two physical factors. In good agreement with Maynard-Smith's ‘thresh-hold theory’ of insect ageing, the rates of mortality showed that ageing of aphids is a two-phase phenomenon with respect to temperature effects. Phase A is temperature independent, while phase B is strongly temperature-dependent in its rate. The transition from A to B occurs earlier for higher temperatures. The effects of a X-irradiation on those parameters are similar to those of an increase of the environmental temperature and the effects of the two physical factors are additive. We conclude that the A phase is determined by mechanisms of regulation and repair. The drastic loss of the efficiency of these mechanisms occurring in ageing organisms leads to the phase B. This event corresponds to the threshold described by Maynard-Smith and it logically occurs earlier at higher temperatures or after irradiation.
ISSN:0531-5565
1873-6815
DOI:10.1016/0531-5565(75)90023-6