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Reingestion of Feces and Excretion Rates of ZN^(65) in Popilius Disjunctus versus Cryptocercus Punctulatus
Author(s) -
Burnett Alta M.,
Mason W. H.,
Rhodes S. T.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1936904
Subject(s) - excretion , trophic level , feces , biology , oxygen , ecology , metabolic rate , zoology , chemistry , biochemistry , endocrinology , organic chemistry
Oxygen consumption and Zn 6 5 excretion were measured at temperatures of 17°C and 27°C for two similar—sized species of wood—feeding insects, Cryptocercus punctulatus and Popilius disjunctus. In each species, rate of oxygen consumption was approximately doubled, and ZN 6 5 excretion was significantly accelerated at the higher temperature. In animals held at a given temperature, @m1 O 2 consumed/g live body weight was similar. However, radiozinc excretion was much more rapid in P. disjunctus than in C. punctulatus at each temperature. The species differences in Zn 6 5 excretion may reflect the extreme differences in feeding habits of these otherwise ecologically similar inhabitants of decaying logs. Excretion rate of the radionuclide Zn 6 5 seems to be a good index of metabolic activity and may be of promise in the study of trophic relationships.