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Increased lipid accumulation but not reduced metabolism explains improved starvation tolerance in cold-acclimated arthropod predators

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Abstract

Predatory arthropods are used for biological control in greenhouses, but there is increasing interest to extend their use to the outdoor environment where temperatures are typically lower. Acclimation at low temperature increases the ability of ectotherms to cope with subsequent more extreme cold, but may involve costs or benefits to other performance traits. A recent study in mesostigmatid mites (Gaeolaelaps aculeifer) showed that starvation tolerance was improved following a period of cold exposure. However, the physiological mechanisms that underlie improved starvation tolerance following cold exposure were not investigated. To examine whether cold acclimation would also improve starvation tolerance in an insect, we repeated the starvation study in another arthropod predator, the pirate bug Orius majusculus, as well as in G. aculeifer. Before tests, the two species were acclimated at 10, 15, or 20 °C for 7 (G. aculeifer) or 16 (O. majusculus) days. We then analyzed the effects of thermal exposure on body composition, consumption, and basal metabolic rate in both species. Our results confirmed that exposure to low temperature improves starvation tolerance in these arthropod predators. Body composition analyses revealed that both species had accumulated larger lipid stores during exposure to colder temperature, which at least in part can explain the larger starvation tolerance following cold exposure. In contrast, consumption and basal metabolic rate were not changed by thermal acclimation. Our study indicates that predatory arthropods exposed to cold increase their physiological robustness and ability to endure environmental challenges, including low temperature and low prey availability.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Søren Toft and three anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on earlier versions of the manuscript.

Funding

This study was funded by the Danish Council for Independent Research–Technology and Production Sciences (DFF-4184-00248).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioscience, Section for Soil Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600, Silkeborg, Denmark

    Kim Jensen & Martin Holmstrup

  2. Department of Bioscience, Section for Zoophysiology, Aarhus University, C.F. Møllers Allé 3, Building 1131, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Jakob V. Michaelsen, Marie T. Larsen & Johannes Overgaard

  3. Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Section for Biology and Environmental Science, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, 9220, Aalborg E, Denmark

    Torsten N. Kristensen

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  1. Kim Jensen
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  2. Jakob V. Michaelsen
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  3. Marie T. Larsen
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  4. Torsten N. Kristensen
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  5. Martin Holmstrup
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Correspondence to Kim Jensen.

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Communicated by: Rumyana Jeleva

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Jensen, K., Michaelsen, J.V., Larsen, M.T. et al. Increased lipid accumulation but not reduced metabolism explains improved starvation tolerance in cold-acclimated arthropod predators. Sci Nat 105, 65 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-018-1593-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-018-1593-6

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