Supercooling points of insects and mites on the Antarctic Peninsula

Block, William. 1982 Supercooling points of insects and mites on the Antarctic Peninsula. Ecological Entomology, 7 (1). 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1982.tb00638.x

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract/Summary

1. Mean supercooling points of eleven species of arthropods (three Collembola, seven Acari and one Diptera) ranged from ‐6.2 to ‐9.4°C (high group), and from ‐17.7 to ‐31.0°C (low group). The majority of individuals in the high group had food in their gut systems. 2. Freezing was lethal to all species examined except larval Belgica antarctica Jacobs (Chironomidae). 3. Glucose, glycerol and mannitol were found in low concentrations in extracts of Ctyptopygus antarcticus Willem (Collembola) and larvae of B. antarcrica; it is udikely that these substances had a major effect on the supercooling of either species. 4. Two Collembola species possessed significantly (P< 0.05) lower supercooling points at locations on the Antarctic Pensinsula than at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. The converse was observed for two species of Acari. 5. It is suggested that whilst gross climatic and also micro‐habitat conditions may influence the cold hardiness of such arthropods, especially seasonally, their full supercooling ability is rarely tested.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1982.tb00638.x
ISSN:	0307-6946
Additional Keywords:	supercooling, Antarctic, Acari, Collembola, Chironomidae, Cold hardiness
Date made live:	11 Jul 2019 08:28 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/524265

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...