Scaling of gas exchange cycle frequency in insects.

ABSTRACT: Previously, it has been suggested that insect gas exchange cycle frequency (fC) is mass independent, making insects different from most other animals where periods typically scale as mass-0.25. However, the claim for insects is based on studies of only a few closely related taxa encompassing a relatively small size range. Moreover, it is not known whether the type of gas exchange pattern (discontinuous versus cyclic) influences the fC-mass scaling relationship. Here, we analyse a large database to examine interspecific fC-mass scaling. In addition, we investigate the effect of mode of gas exchange on the fC-scaling relationship using both conventional and phylogenetically independent approaches. Cycle frequency is scaled as mass(-0.280) (when accounting for phylogenetic non-independence an

SUBMITTER: Terblanche JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2412941 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature