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First published online March 31, 2007
Journal of Experimental Biology 210, 1446-1454 (2007)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2007
doi: 10.1242/jeb.02757

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Just drop it and run: the effect of limb autotomy on running distance and locomotion energetics of field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus)

Patricia A. Fleming^1,* and Philip W. Bateman²

¹ School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
² Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

View larger version (15K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 1. Change in distance run (A), average speed of running (B) and average number of stops m–1 run (C) for intact (control) and autotomised male and female field crickets Gryllus bimaculatus. Values are means ± 1 s.d. for N=15 individuals in each group.

View larger version (8K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 2. The effect of autotomy on metabolic rate (J s–1 kg–1, measured as CO2 and converted to J [assuming an energy equivalent of 23.3 J ml CO2–1 (Duncan, 1999)] in 18 male field crickets Gryllus bimaculatus. Resting (RCO2; speed 0 m s–1) and active (ACO2) metabolic rates (MR) were measured for each individual (two data points per individual are shown). Although there is a strong effect of speed on active metabolic rate, the effect of autotomy treatment (autotomised vs control/intact animals) was significant. Regression lines are drawn to fit active measurements.

View larger version (17K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 3. The minimum cost of transport (MCOT) compared with body mass for data listed in Table 3. RT indicates studies that used a running tube; T indicates the use of a miniature treadmill. The regression line is fitted to all species and is statistically significant (r2=0.56, F1,39=25.40, P<0.001). –* indicates data for Marpissa muscosa, which is discussed in the text.