High metabolic and water-loss rates in caterpillar aggregations : evidence against the resource-conservation hypothesis
Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Company of Biologists
Abstract
Several hypotheses have been proposed for explaining animal aggregation, including energy or water conservation. However, these physiological hypotheses have not been well investigated. Here, we report the effects of aggregation on metabolic (Embedded Image) and evaporative water-loss rates (Embedded Image) of the gregarious caterpillar Eutricha capensis, by comparing individuals and groups of individuals (N=10–100). Contrary to findings from previous physiological studies, we did not find an advantage to aggregation: unexpectedly, Embedded Image and Embedded Image did not decrease with increasing group size. Embedded Image and Embedded Image generally remained constant or increased in larger groups relative to individuals. The amount of water lost per unit of CO2 exchanged (Embedded Image: Embedded Image ratio) showed a marked increase in grouped caterpillars, particularly in larger groups. Other benefits of aggregation (e.g. reduced predation or increased growth rates) likely outweigh these potential costs, because individuals of E. capensis aggregate voluntarily despite no obvious energetic or hygric advantage, and other potentially confounding group effects (e.g. increased thermoregulatory advantage or whole-animal activity) are inconsequential. The results of this study provide an important exception to physiological studies reporting enhanced energy or water conservation in animal groups.
Description
CITATION: Schoombie, R. E. et al. 2013. High metabolic and water-loss rates in caterpillar aggregations : evidence against the resource-conservation hypothesis. Journal of Experimental Biology, 216: 4321-4325; doi: 10.1242/jeb.095554.
The original publication is available at http://jeb.biologists.org
The original publication is available at http://jeb.biologists.org
Keywords
Caterpillars (Eutricha capensis), Animal groups -- Energy conservation, Animal groups -- Water conservation, Caterpillars -- Physiology
Citation
Schoombie, R. E. et al. 2013. High metabolic and water-loss rates in caterpillar aggregations : evidence against the resource-conservation hypothesis. Journal of Experimental Biology, 216: 4321-4325; doi: 10.1242/jeb.095554.