High metabolic and water-loss rates in caterpillar aggregations : evidence against the resource-conservation hypothesis

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dc.contributor.authorSchoombie, Ruben E.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBoardman, Leighen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGroenewald, Berlizeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGlazier, Douglas S.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorVan Daalen, Corne E.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorClusella-Trullas, Susanaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorTerblanche, John S.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-07-07T12:13:17Z
dc.date.available2014-07-07T12:13:17Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.descriptionCITATION: 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.en_ZA
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at http://jeb.biologists.orgen_ZA
dc.description.abstractSeveral 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.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://jeb.biologists.org/content/216/23/4321
dc.description.versionPublisher's versionen_ZA
dc.format.extent5 pages : illustrationsen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSchoombie, 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.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1477-9145 (online)
dc.identifier.otherdoi: 10.1242/jeb.095554
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/92259
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherCompany of Biologistsen_ZA
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyrighten_ZA
dc.subjectCaterpillars (Eutricha capensis)en_ZA
dc.subjectAnimal groups -- Energy conservationen_ZA
dc.subjectAnimal groups -- Water conservationen_ZA
dc.subjectCaterpillars -- Physiologyen_ZA
dc.titleHigh metabolic and water-loss rates in caterpillar aggregations : evidence against the resource-conservation hypothesisen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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