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3 - Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects

This document discusses discontinuous gas exchange (DGE) in insects. It begins by describing the insect tracheal system and limitations to body size posed by gas exchange needs. It then outlines three gas exchange patterns (continuous, cyclic, DGE) and notes DGE has only been observed in 99 species so far. Several hypotheses for the adaptive significance of DGE are presented: minimizing respiratory water loss, maximizing gas gradients in burrows, reducing oxidative damage during rest, and excluding parasites. Non-adaptive hypotheses like DGE resulting from neural activity or being an emergent property are also outlined.

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78 views20 pages

3 - Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects

This document discusses discontinuous gas exchange (DGE) in insects. It begins by describing the insect tracheal system and limitations to body size posed by gas exchange needs. It then outlines three gas exchange patterns (continuous, cyclic, DGE) and notes DGE has only been observed in 99 species so far. Several hypotheses for the adaptive significance of DGE are presented: minimizing respiratory water loss, maximizing gas gradients in burrows, reducing oxidative damage during rest, and excluding parasites. Non-adaptive hypotheses like DGE resulting from neural activity or being an emergent property are also outlined.

Uploaded by

Maya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BIOB32 – Animal Physiology Laboratory

Discontinuous Gas
Exchange in Insects

Marais et al. (2005) JEB 208: 4495


Chown et al. (2006) PBZ 79: 333
Kaiser et al. (2007) PNAS 104: 13198
Contreras et al. (2014) Curr Opin Insect Sci 4: 48
Matthews (2018) J Comp Physiol B 188: 195
Gefen and Matthews (2021) Curr Opin Insect Sci 48: 26
Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects
Insect Tracheal System

spiracles

trachea

Rhinoceros beetle (larva)


Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects
Insect Tracheal System
A series of air-filled, Fick’s Law:
blind-ending tubes,
which are invaginations
of the epidermis

No role for circulatory


system in gas exchange
(hence, insects rarely
have respiratory
pigments)
Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects
Insect Tracheal System
Limits to Body Size Fick’s Law:

isometric

Large insects would have such


large tracheal volumes that there
would be no space for other
crucial body systems
Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects
Insect Tracheal System
Spiracles

elastic hinge
closer muscle

Preying Mantis
Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects
Gas Exchange Patterns in Insects at Rest

Continuous

Cyclic

DGE is never observed in


flying insects;
Discontinuous metabolic rate is the
primary determinant of
whether it utilizes DGE.
Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects
Phases of Discontinuous Gas Exchange
Flutter phase ends when:
1. Intratracheal and atmospheric
pressure equalize; and/or
O 2. Hemolymph pH becomes too acidic
due to CO2 accumulation
C
F
C = spiracles closed
F = spiracles “flutter” (i.e., open and
close rapidly)
Ailanthus silkmoth (pupa) O = spiracles open

O2 gets in;
CO2 does not get out
Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects
First reported in 1950,
Phylogenetic Distribution of DGE in Insects DGE has been observed
in only 99 species (so far)

Occurs in adults, larvae, and pupae alike


Some species exhibit
two or three of the
patterns
Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects
DGE evolved to minimize respiratory
Adaptive Significance of DGE water loss.
Hygric Hypothesis First hypothesis proposed (in 1953); it
remained unchallenged for nearly 40 years!

Trachea

PH2O
Propertius Duskywing Atmosphere
Low H2O Loss
MR did not differ High H2O Loss per CO2 Loss
F
between CGE and per CO2 Loss
DGE C
PCO2

Trachea O
O
Atmosphere

Dr. Caroline Williams (UC Berkeley)


Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects
DGE evolved to minimize respiratory
Adaptive Significance of DGE water loss.
Hygric Hypothesis? First hypothesis proposed (in 1953); it
remained unchallenged for nearly 40 years!
Camponotus vicinus

Metabolic rate did not change


Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects DGE evolved to maximize O2 and CO2
Adaptive Significance of DGE gradients in hypoxic and hypercapnic
Chthonic Hypothesis environments (esp. burrows) to
facilitate gas exchange.

Tiger Beetle Larva


Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects`
Adaptive Significance of DGE
Chthonic Hypothesis

Female alate

Messor pergandei

Male alate

Male worker

Messor julianus
Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects DGE evolved to reduce intratracheal
Adaptive Significance of DGE (and tissue) PO2 when an insect’s MR is
Oxidative Damage Hypothesis low in order to minimize ROS
production.
The insect tracheal system
evolved to maximize O2 delivery
SOD to tissues during activity (esp.
flight), but it may over-deliver
O2 Antioxidants O2 to tissues during rest

OH·
SOD
O2- H2O2
(ROS)

↓ susceptibility or ↑ repair
Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects
Adaptive Significance of DGE
Oxidative Damage Hypothesis
Ailanthus silkmoth (pupa) ROS production only slightly higher

longer closed phase

(21% O2) (40% O2)


Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects
DGE evolved to help exclude parasites
Adaptive Significance of DGE from the tracheal system.
“Strolling Arthropod” Hypothesis **Initially proposed in the 1970s, then
dismissed, but now being re-investigated

Data from two hives:


Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects
DGE is associated with downregulation
Non-Adaptive Hypotheses of brain activity.
Neural Hypothesis
Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects DGEisisassociated
a ganglionic respiratory pattern
DGE with downregulation
Non-Adaptive Hypotheses of brain activity.
Neural Hypothesis
Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects DGE is a ganglionic respiratory pattern
Non-Adaptive Hypotheses
Neural Hypothesis
The principle criticism of
the neural hypothesis is
that DGE does not occur
in all insects yet all
insects sleep
Firing Rate
Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects DGE is the result of two separate
Non-Adaptive Hypotheses feedback loops controlling spiracle
opening: one based on O2
Emergent Properties Hypothesis and one based on CO2
Discontinuous Gas Exchange in Insects DGE is the result of two separate
Non-Adaptive Hypotheses feedback loops controlling spiracle
opening: one based on O2
Emergent Properties Hypothesis and one based on CO2

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