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First published online March 8, 2005
Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 907-914 (2005)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2005
doi: 10.1242/jeb.01479

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The role of the mesothoracic spiracles in respiration in flighted and flightless dung beetles

Frances D. Duncan^1,* and Marcus J. Byrne²

¹ School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa
² Ecophysiological Studies Research Programme, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Wits 2050, South Africa

^* Author for correspondence at present address: School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Wits 2050, South Africa (e-mail: duncanfd{at}biology.biol.wits.ac.za)

Accepted 3 January 2005

The relative role of the mesothoracic and abdominal spiracles in respiration was examined using flow-through respirometry in four dung beetle species from different habitats. Two species of flightless beetles, Scarabaeus (Pachysoma) gariepinus and Scarabaeus (Pachysoma) striatum, from the arid western region of southern Africa and a large flighted species, Pachylomerus femoralis, from a more mesic habitat were compared with Circellium bacchus, a flightless beetle from a low rainfall eastern area. All species showed a form of the discontinuous gas exchange pattern at rest. The mesic flighted species used a closed, flutter, open, cycle (CFO) while those species from more arid habitats used a closed, ventilation, cycle (CV) or a closed, burst cycle (CB). The relative importance of the mesothoracic spiracles in CO₂ emission varied between the species, even between those from the same genus and habitat. C. bacchus and P. femoralis represent extremes of CO₂ emission from the mesothoracic spiracles; from almost total to almost none, respectively. Overall, mesothoracic CO₂ emission and convection were more pronounced in the dry habitat species, supporting the hypothesis that both strategies aid in the reduction of water loss.

Key words: Scarabaeini, discontinuous gas exchange cycle, arid habitat, subelytral cavity

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