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Effects of oviposition on jump performance in the American locust ( Schistocerca americana )
Author(s) -
Arntzen Kaitlin,
Kirkton. Scott D.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.757.19
Subject(s) - jumping , locust , jump , schistocerca , biology , ontogeny , anatomy , physiology , ecology , endocrinology , physics , quantum mechanics
Life history changes, such as ontogeny or gravidity, can alter energetic demands associated with animal locomotion. By studying how locomotory performance in the American locust ( Schistocerca americana ) varies with development, we are investigating how physiological systems cope with these fluctuating conditions. In particular, we examined how the jumping muscle can accommodate dramatic body mass changes. During four weeks of adult development, the body mass of older female grasshoppers increased by 95% but the femur mass only increased by 44%. When induced to jump repeatedly, older adult females had reduced endurance but increased muscle‐specific power outputs. However, these data do not control for reproductive state. We found that body mass in reproductive female grasshoppers fluctuated by approximately 20% due to gravidity and oviposition. By comparing repeated jumping performance, we show that age‐matched, unmated females had a greater jump endurance than gravid animals. Current studies are using high‐speed video analysis to compare the maximal jump performance of females before and after oviposition. Our initial results suggest that life history changes, such as gravidity, can significantly reduce locomotory performance. This work was supported by the Union College IEF fund.