Discontinuous gas exchange

Discontinuous gas exchange

Contents

Discontinuous gas-exchange cycles (DGC), also called discontinuous ventilation or discontinuous ventilatory cycles, follow one of several patterns of arthropod gas exchange that have been documented primarily in insects; they occur when the insect is at rest. During DGC, oxygen (O2) uptake and carbon dioxide (CO2) release from the whole insect follow a cyclical pattern characterized by periods of little to no release of CO2 to the external environment.[1] Discontinuous gas exchange is traditionally defined in three phases, whose names reflect the behaviour of the spiracles: the closed phase, the flutter phase, and the open phase.[2]

Until recently, insect respiration was believed to occur entirely by simple diffusion. It was believed that air entered the tracheae through the spiracles, and diffused through the tracheal system to the tracheoles, whereupon O2 was delivered to the cells. However, even at rest, insects show a wide variety of gas exchange patterns, ranging from largely diffusive continuous ventilation, to cyclic respiration, of which discontinuous gas exchange cycles are the most striking.[3]

Discontinuous gas exchange cycles have been described in over 50 insect species, most of which are large beetles (order Coleoptera) or butterflies or moths (order Lepidoptera).[2] As the cycles have evolved more than once within the insects, discontinuous gas exchange cycles are likely adaptive, but the mechanisms and significance of their evolution and are currently under debate.[2]

Phases

Discontinuous gas exchange cycles are characterized by a repeating pattern of three phases. These phases are named according to the behaviour of the spiracles and are most commonly identified by their CO2 output, primarily observed using open flow respirometry.[2]

Closed phase

During the closed phase of discontinuous gas exchange cycles, the spiracle muscles contract, causing the spiracles to shut tight. At the initiation of the closed phase, the partial pressure of both O2 and CO2 is close to that of the external environment, but closure of the spiracles drastically reduces the capacity for the exchange of gases with the external environment.[2] Independent of cycles of insect ventilation which may be discontinuous, cellular respiration on a whole animal level continues at a constant rate.[1] As O2 is consumed, its partial pressure decreases within the tracheal system. In contrast, as CO2 is produced by the cells, it is buffered in the haemolymph rather than being exported to the tracheal system.[1] This mismatch between O2 consumption and CO2 production within the tracheal system leads to a negative pressure inside the system relative to the external environment. Once the partial pressure of O2 in the tracheal system drops below a lower limit, activity in the nervous system causes the initiation of the flutter phase.[2]

Flutter phase

During the flutter phase of discontinuous gas exchange cycles, spiracles open slightly and close in rapid succession.[2] As a result of the negative pressure within the tracheal system, created during the closed phase, a small amount of air from the environment enters the respiratory system each time the spiracles are opened. However, the negative internal pressure also prevents the liberation of CO2 from the haemolymph and its exportation through the tracheal system.[1] As a result, during the flutter phase, additional O2 from the environment is acquired to satisfy cellular O2 demand, while little to no CO2 is released. The flutter phase may continue even after tracheal pressure is equal to that of the environment, and the acquisition of O2 may be assisted in some insects by active ventilatory movements such as contraction of the abdomen.[2] The flutter phase continues until CO2 production surpasses the buffering capacity of the haemolymph and begins to build up within the tracheal system. CO2 within the tracheal system has both a direct (acting on the muscle tissue) and indirect (through the nervous system) impact on the spiracle muscles and they are opened widely, initiating the open phase.[2]

Open phase

A rapid release of CO2 to the environment characterizes the open phase of discontinuous gas exchange cycles. During the open phase, spiracular muscles relax and the spiracles open completely.[2] The open phase may initiate a single, rapid release of CO2, or several spikes declining in amplitude with time as a result of the repeated opening and closing of the spiracles. During the open phase, a complete exchange of gases with the environment occurs entirely by diffusion in some species, but may be assisted by active ventilatory movements in others.[1]

Variability in discontinuous gas exchange cycles

The great variation in insect respiratory cycles can largely be explained by differences in spiracle function, body size and metabolic rate. Gas exchange may occur through a single open spiracle, or the coordination of several spiracles.[2] Spiracle function is controlled almost entirely by the nervous system. In most insects that demonstrate discontinuous gas exchange, spiracle movements and active ventilation are closely coordinated by the nervous system to generate unidirectional air flow within the tracheal system.[2] This coordination leads to the highly regulated bursting pattern of CO2 release. Building CO2 levels during the flutter phase may either directly affect spiracular opening, affect the nervous system while being pumped through the haemolymph, or both.[1] However, the effects of CO2 on both spiracles and the nervous system do not appear to be related to changes in pH.[1]

Variability in discontinuous gas exchange cycles is also dependent upon external stimuli such as temperature and the partial pressure of O2 and CO2 in the external environment.[1] Environmental stimuli may affect one or more aspects of discontinuous cycling, such as cycle frequency and the quantity of CO2 released at each burst.[1] Temperature can have massive effects on the metabolic rate of ectothermic animals, and changes in metabolic rate can create large differences in discontinuous gas exchange cycles.[1] At a species-specific low temperature discontinuous gas exchange cycles are known to cease entirely, as muscle function is lost and spiracles relax and open. The temperature at which muscular function is lost is known as the chill coma temperature.[4]

Discontinuous gas exchange cycles vary widely among different species of insects, and these differences have been used in the past to support or refute hypotheses of the evolution of respiratory cycling in insects.

Evolution of discontinuous gas exchange cycles

Despite being well described, the mechanisms responsible for the evolution of discontinuous gas exchange cycles are largely unknown. Discontinuous gas exchange cycles have long been thought to be an adaptation to conserve water when living in a terrestrial environment (the hygric hypothesis).[2] However, recent studies question the hygric hypothesis, and several alternative hypotheses have been proposed. For discontinuous gas exchange cycles to be considered adaptive, the origin and subsequent persistence of the trait must be demonstrated to be a result of natural selection.[2]

Hygric hypothesis

The hygric hypothesis was first proposed in 1953, making it the earliest posed hypothesis for the evolution of discontinuous gas exchange.[1] The hygric hypothesis proposes that the discontinuous release of CO2 is an adaptation that allows terrestrial insects to limit respiratory water loss to the environment.[5] This hypothesis is supported by studies that have demonstrated that respiratory water loss is substantially higher in insects forced to keep their spiracles open, than those of the same species who exhibit discontinuous gas exchange.[5] In addition, laboratory selection experiments on Drosophila melanogaster have shown that more variable gas exchange patterns can emerge in populations of insects artificially selected for tolerance to dry conditions.[6] However, water loss during discontinuous gas exchange is only limited during the flutter phase if gas exchange during the flutter phase is convective (or assisted by muscular contraction). From a water conservation perspective, if ventilation during the flutter phase occurs entirely by simple diffusion, there is no benefit to having a flutter phase.[1] This has led to the belief that some other factor may have contributed to the evolution of discontinuous gas exchange in insects.

Chthonic and chthonic-hygric hypotheses

Following work on harvester ants in 1995, doctors John Lighton and David Berrigan proposed the chthonic hypothesis.[7] It was observed that many insects that demonstrate discontinuous gas exchange cycles are exposed to hypoxia (low O2 levels) and hypercapnia (high CO2 levels) by spending at least part of their life cycle in enclosed spaces underground.[1] Lighton and Berrigan hypothesized that discontinuous gas exchange cycles may be an adaptation to maximize partial pressure gradients between an insect’s respiratory system and the environment in which it lives.[7] Alternatively, insects could obtain enough O2 by opening their spiracles for extended periods of time. However, unless their environment is very humid, water will be lost from the respiratory system to the environment.[2] Discontinuous gas exchange cycles, therefore, may limit water loss while facilitating O2 consumption and CO2 removal in such environments. Many researchers describe this theory as the chthonic-hygric hypothesis and consider it to support the hygric hypothesis. However, others emphasize the importance of maximizing partial pressure gradients alone and consider the chthonic hypothesis to be distinct from the hygric hypothesis.[2]

Oxidative damage hypothesis

The oxidative damage hypothesis states that discontinuous gas exchange cycles are an adaptation to reduce the amount of O2 delivered to tissues under periods of low metabolic rate.[1] During the open phase, O2 partial pressure in the tracheal system reaches levels near that of the external environment. However, over time during the closed phase the partial pressure of O2 drops, limiting the overall exposure of tissues to O2 over time.[2] This would lead to the expectation of prolonged flutter periods in insects that may be particularly sensitive to high levels of O2 within the body. Strangely however, termites that carry a highly oxygen-sensitive symbiotic bacteria demonstrate continuous, diffusive ventilation.[8]

Strolling arthropods hypothesis

The strolling arthropods hypothesis was a very early hypothesis for the evolution of discontinuous gas exchange cycles.[2] It was postulated that discontinuous gas exchange cycles and spiracles which close off the respiratory system, may in part do so to prevent small arthropod parasites such as mites and particulate matter such as dust from entering the respiratory system. This hypothesis was largely dismissed in the 1970s, but has recently gained additional attention.[2] The strolling arthropods hypothesis is supported by evidence that tracheal parasites can substantially limit O2 delivery to the flight muscles of active honeybees. As a result of large populations of tracheal mites, honeybees are unable to reach metabolic rates in flight muscle necessary for flight, and are grounded.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Chown, S.L.; S.W. Nicholson (2004). Insect Physiological Ecology. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198515499. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Chown SL, Gibbs AG, Hetz SK, Klok CJ, Lighton JRB, Marias E (2006). "Discontinuous gas exchange in insects: a clarification of hypotheses and approaches". Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 79 (2): 333–343. doi:10.1086/499992. PMID 16555192. 
  3. ^ Nation, J.L. (2002). Insect Physiology and Biochemistry. Boca Raton: C.R.C. Press. ISBN 0849311810. 
  4. ^ Lighton JRB, Lovegrove BG, (1990). "A temperature-induced switch from diffusive to convective ventilation in the honeybee". Journal of Experimental Biology 154: 509–516. doi:jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/154/1/509.pdf. 
  5. ^ a b Chown SL; Lighton, JR; Holway, DA (2002). "Respiratory water loss in insects". Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A 133 (12): 791–804. doi:10.1016/j.jinsphys.2005.07.008. PMID 16154585. 
  6. ^ Williams AE, Rose MR, Bradley TJ (1997). "CO2 release patterns in Drosophila melanogaster: the effect of selection for desiccation resistance". Journal of Experimental Biology 200 (Pt 3): 615–624. PMID 9057311. 
  7. ^ a b Lighton JRB, Berrigan D (1995). "Questioning paradigms: caste-specific ventiation in harvester ants, Messor pergandei and M. julianus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". Journal of Experimental Biology 198 (Pt 2): 521–530. PMID 9318205. 
  8. ^ Lighton JRB (2007). "Respiratory Biology: why insects evolved discontinuous gas exchange". Current Biology 17 (16): R645–647. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2007.06.007. PMID 17714655. 
  9. ^ Harrison JF, Camazine S, Marden JH, Kirkton SD, Rozo A, Yang X (1995). "Mite not make it home: tracheal mites reduce the safety margin for oxygen delivery of flying honeybees". Journal of Experimental Biology 198 (Pt 4): 521–530. PMID 11171363. 

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Respiratory system — See also: Respiratory tract Respiratory A complete, schematic view of the human respiratory system with their parts and functions. Latin …   Wikipedia

  • Insect — For the Breed 77 album, see Insects (album). Insect Temporal range: 396–0 Ma …   Wikipedia

  • Insect morphology — Legend of body parts Tagmata : A Head, B Thorax, C Abdomen. 1. antenna 2. ocelli (lower) 3. ocelli (upper) 4. compound eye 5. brain (cerebral ganglia) 6. prothorax …   Wikipedia

  • Insect physiology — includes the physiology and biochemistry of insect organ systems. Although diverse, insects are quite similar in overall design, internally and externally. The insect is made up of three main body regions (tagmata), the head, thorax and abdomen.… …   Wikipedia

  • DCG — may refer to: Definite clause grammar, a means of expressing grammatical relationships Discounted Cumulative Gain, a performance measure for search engine ranking algorithms Discontinuous gas exchange, a physiological pattern of respiratory gas… …   Wikipedia

  • DGC — can refer to: Discontinuous Gas Exchange Cycles Geffen Records DGC Records Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chronometrie DARPA Grand Challenge Digital gold currency Di Gi Charat Distributed Garbage Collection Durban Girls College Directors Guild of… …   Wikipedia

  • hydrosphere — /huy dreuh sfear /, n. the water on or surrounding the surface of the globe, including the water of the oceans and the water in the atmosphere. [1885 90; HYDRO 1 + SPHERE] * * * Discontinuous layer of water at or near the Earth s surface. It… …   Universalium

  • tree — treelike, adj. /tree/, n., v., treed, treeing. n. 1. a plant having a permanently woody main stem or trunk, ordinarily growing to a considerable height, and usually developing branches at some distance from the ground. 2. any of various shrubs,… …   Universalium

  • Tree — /tree/, n. Sir Herbert Beerbohm /bear bohm/, (Herbert Beerbohm), 1853 1917, English actor and theater manager; brother of Max Beerbohm. * * * I Woody perennial plant. Most trees have a single self supporting trunk containing woody tissues, and in …   Universalium

  • Glossary of botanical terms — Many of the terms used in Wikipedia glossaries (often most) are already defined and explained within Wikipedia itself. However, lists like the following indicate where new articles need to be written and are also useful for looking up and… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”