Thermoregulatory strategies in two closely related sympatric Scarabaeus species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae)

• Published in: Physiological entomology 2004-03, Vol.29 (1), p.32-38
• Main Authors: Verdu, J.R, Diaz, A, Galante, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: abdomen; abdominal temperature; adaptation; Adaptive strategies; ambient temperature; body temperature; daily flight activity; diurnal variation; dung beetles; endothermy; flight posture; heat transfer; insect flight; physical activity; posture; Scarabaeidae; Scarabaeus; Scarabaeus cicatricosus; Scarabaeus sacer; species differences; sympatric species; thermal biology; thermoregulation; thoracic temperature; thorax
• ISSN: 0307-6962; 1365-3032
• DOI: 10.1111/j.0307-6962.2004.0359.x

The thermoregulation strategies of Scarabaeus sacer L. and Scarabaeus cicatricosus Lucas were studied in the Doąna National Park, Spain. In this area, both species coexist, showing the same habitat and food preferences. However, S. cicatricosus is active during warmer parts of the day compared to S. sacer. Both species thermoregulate their thoracic temperature but, whereas the abdomen of S. sacer is a passive thermal window, S. cicatricosus actively thermoregulates abdominal temperature by increasing heat transfer from the thorax to the abdomen at high Ta values. In the case of S. sacer, their endothermy indicates an adaptive capacity to thorax heat retention, as occurs mainly in winter-flying insects. This mechanism, possibly related to the aerodynamic flight posture in Scarabaeinae, could be an effective barrier to retard the rate of abdominal heat loss during flight. This endothermic strategy makes flight difficult at higher temperatures, although it allows flight during cooler periods of the day. On the other hand, S. cicatricosus showed a different adaptive behaviour to S. sacer. In this case, a significant decrease in abdominal heat loss at higher ambient temperatures would indicate a decrease in heat transfer from the thorax to the abdomen, as occurs in some desert and semiarid insects. This 'heat exchanger' mechanism observed in S. cicatricosus could be due to the irregular posture adopted during flight, with the posterior legs clearly extended and separate from the body. This behaviour increases turbulence and convective cooling, favouring exposure of the soft abdominal tergal cuticle and, subsequently, water loss. Thus, for S. cicatricosus, the well-adapted 'heat exchanger' permits flight during periods of the day when temperatures would possibly be lethal for those species with high endothermy. From an adaptive viewpoint, these mechanisms of thermoregulation may explain how both closely-related sympatric species respond in different ways to environmental temperature, favouring their coexistence.