method for rapid measurement of heat or cold resistance of small insects

1. We describe a new technique for rapidly measuring the heat or cold resistance of many small insects. We heat (or cool) insects in a temperature-controlled column and measure the temperature at which they are knocked down. 2. An artificial selection experiment on heat resistance demonstrates that...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Functional ecology 1992, Vol.6 (4), p.489-494
Main Authors: Huey, R.B, Crill, W.D, Kingsolver, J.G, Weber, K.E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acclimatization
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
artificial selection
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Body temperature
cold tolerance
Critical temperature
Drosophila
Drosophila melanogaster
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heat
heat resistance
Insecta
insects
Invertebrates
knock-down temperature
laboratory equipment
laboratory techniques
measurement
Protozoa. Invertebrata
temperature
Temperature control
Temperature gradients
Temperature resistance
Thermal resistance
Water temperature
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Summary:1. We describe a new technique for rapidly measuring the heat or cold resistance of many small insects. We heat (or cool) insects in a temperature-controlled column and measure the temperature at which they are knocked down. 2. An artificial selection experiment on heat resistance demonstrates that knock-down temperatures respond rapidly to selection. After only four generations of selection, the experimental and control lines differed significantly in both knock-down temperature and physiological heat tolerance, as measured by per cent survival of a heat shock. 3. Potential applications (acclimation, ageing, selection) and technical problems (body size, humidity, statistical considerations) are evaluated.
ISSN:0269-8463
1365-2435
DOI:10.2307/2389288