Abstract
Water content, percentage of total body water lost as a function of time, and cuticular permeability are determined for 10 species of millipedes representing three orders (Polydesmida, Spirobolida and Spirostreptida). Mean water content per cubic centimeter of body mass ranges from 422 mg for Polydesmopeltis kelaarti to 886 mg for yet undetermined Species B (Spirostreptida: Harpagophoridae). Mean percentage of total body water ranged from 57.46 for Orthomorpha coarctata to 70.21 for P. kelaarti. Mean cuticular permeability ranges from 20.28 μg cm-1h-1mm Hg-1 for Gonoplectus malayusto 82.53 μg cm-1h-1mm Hg- 1for O.coarctata. Cumulative percentage of total body water lost at 20 hour varied widely ranging from 9.35% in G. malayus to 61.64% in O. coarctata. Smaller millipedes (Polydesmida), having lower water reserve, higher CP values and higher rate of percent of TBW lost, are less tolerant to desiccation compared with larger species (Spirobolida and Spirostreptida). Analyzed polydesmids are restricted to hygric environments, whereas, spirobolids and spirostreptids can tolerate desiccation to a large extent and are confined to mesic or xeric habitats.
Highlights
Water conservation is of major importance for terrestrial arthropods (CLOUDSLEYTHOMPSON, 1975)
The objective of this study is to examine different aspects of water relations in 10 species of tropical millipedes including differences in their water content per unit volume, cuticular permeability (CP), total body water (TBW) loss and mortality, in the context of the types of environments they are found in and their overall sizes
12 millipede species found across different soil habitats and seasons were collected from several localities in the district Birbhum (23032 ́30 ́ ́N to the 24035 ́N, and 8705 ́25 ́ ́E to the 8801 ́40 ́ ́E) (West Bengal, India)
Summary
Water conservation is of major importance for terrestrial arthropods (CLOUDSLEYTHOMPSON, 1975). The cuticle of most species of millipedes is permeable to the water and this restricts their habitats to areas where the humidity is high (EDNEY, 1977) As such, in these groups water loss by transpiration tends to be proportional to the saturation deficiency of the atmosphere (CLOUDSLEY-THOMPSON, 1960, 1961). In these groups water loss by transpiration tends to be proportional to the saturation deficiency of the atmosphere (CLOUDSLEY-THOMPSON, 1960, 1961) Because these arthropods lose water rapidly in dry air at normal ambient temperatures, they tend to be restricted to moist cryptozoic micro habitats such as those found within soils, under stones, fallen leaves and within crevices (BLIGH et al, 1976). As millipedes vary greatly in size (2mm to 300mm), it is expected that water loss dynamics associated with body size will be evident
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