RESUMEN
The morphological ontogeny of Punctoribates ghilarovi Shaldybina, 1969 is described and illustrated. This species is most similar to P. mundus Shaldybina, 1973, but is larger than the latter species. The juveniles of P. ghilarovi are light brown, with most prodorsal setae of medium size, except for long seta ro in the larva, and short and smooth seta ex in all instars. The larva has 12 pairs of gastronotal setae, including h3, the nymphs have 15 pairs. Most of them are medium sized and barbed, except for slightly longer dm, dp, lm, lp and h1, and short and smooth h3 in the larva, and short and smooth da and dm, slightly longer dp, and clearly longer h1, h3 and lp in the nymphs. In all juveniles, a humeral organ is present.
Asunto(s)
Ácaros , Animales , Tamaño Corporal , Larva , Ninfa , SensilosRESUMEN
The question whether total population energy use is invariant to species body size (the energy equivalence hypothesis) is central to metabolic ecology and continues to be controversial. While recent comparative field work and meta-analyses pointed to systematic deviations of the underlying allometric scaling laws from predictions of metabolic theory none of these studies included the variability of metabolic scaling in ecological time. Here we used extensive data on the invertebrate soil fauna of Kampinos National Park (Poland) obtained from six consecutive quantitative sampling seasons to show that phylogenetically corrected species density-body weight and population energy use-body weight relationships across all soil fauna species and within trophic groups and body weight classes were highly variable in time. On average, population energy use tended to increase with species body weight in decomposers and phytophages, but not in predators. Despite these trends, our data do not exclude the possibility that energy equivalence marks the central tendency of energy use in the edaphon. Our results highlight the need for long-term studies on energy use to unequivocally assess predictions of metabolic theory.
Asunto(s)
Metabolismo Energético/fisiología , Invertebrados/metabolismo , Modelos Biológicos , Suelo , Animales , Tamaño Corporal/fisiología , Filogenia , Polonia , Densidad de Población , Estaciones del Año , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
We observed the oviposition behaviour of the soil mite Veigaia cerva (Kramer) (Acari: Veigaiidae) using continuous video-monitoring. Five phases could be recognized. Phase I involved inspection of the substrate. In phase II the female rhythmically moved her gnathosoma and first pair of legs. After an inactive phase III, the soma was raised (IV), and the egg was laid (V). In the actual egg laying three sub-phases could be distinguished: internal egg movement, placing the egg in front of the gnathosoma, and depositing the egg using the chelicerae. The palps and first pair of legs were used to position the egg between the chelicerae. The whole process took on average 333 ± 22 s.
Asunto(s)
Ácaros/fisiología , Oviposición/fisiología , Animales , Conducta Animal , Femenino , Ácaros/anatomía & histología , Factores de Tiempo , Grabación en VideoRESUMEN
We observed the oviposition behaviour of the soil mite Pergamasus brevicornis Berlese (Acari: Parasitidae) using continuous video-monitoring. Oviposition consisted of six sequential phases. The first phase (I) involved inspection of the substrate. In the second phase (II) there were rhythmic movements of the first pair of legs and slight reciprocating movements of the body. The third (III) was a resting phase. In the fourth phase (IV) the gnathosoma was lowered and the body was raised. In the next phase (V) there were two sub-phases. During the first (Va), the female held the egg below the gnathosoma. In the second sub-phase (Vb), the gnathosoma moved up holding the egg, which was then placed on the substrate. The last phase (VI) involved intense 'cleaning' movements of the chelicerae and palps. During Va a protective external eggshell structure is gradually formed, involving a phase where the egg shell is sticky. After moving the egg to the substrate, the female freed her palps and chelicerae from the sticky egg shell and cleaned her gnathosomal appendages. Phases II-V took on average 207 ± 69 s.