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Thermal relations of the Indian leech,Poecilobdella viridis (Blanchard)

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Proceedings / Indian Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Thermal relations of the Indian leech,Poecilobdella viridis have been investigated. Leeches maintained at laboratory conditions (25·5°–27·5°C) were observed to have 36·65°C and 3·7°C as an upper and a lower lethal temperature respectively for 24 hr. Their 24 hr median heat tolerating capacity was elevated by 4·87°C after warm (32·0°±0·5°C) acclimation for 15 days. Ecophysiological significance of these changes toP. viridis in combating the ambient thermal fluxes has been hinted briefly.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Marathwada University, 431 004, Aurangabad

    R Nagabhushanam & G K Kulkarni

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  1. R Nagabhushanam
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  2. G K Kulkarni
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Nagabhushanam, R., Kulkarni, G.K. Thermal relations of the Indian leech,Poecilobdella viridis (Blanchard). Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 86, 229–234 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03050966

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03050966

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