Lloyd C. Fitzpatrick

A non-invasive technique for sequential collection of earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) leukocytes during subchronic immunotoxicity studies:

We have compared two methods for collecting earthworm leukocytes (coelomocytes) with respect to cell yield, viability and behaviour in immunoassays. Non-invasive extrusion was more efficient than puncturing the coelomic cavity. Extrusion does not produce trauma to earthworms maintained under long term laboratory conditions. Neither technique modified immune assays, as determined by erythrocyte and secretory rosette formation, and phagocytosis, since all 3 were functionally equivalent. After an initial extrusion, sequential leukocyte collections by extrusion are possible at intervals of 6 weeks without affecting total and differential cell counts and rosette formation.

The energetic costs of tail autotomy to reproduction in the lizard Coleonyx brevis (Sauria: Gekkonidae)

SummaryEnergy reserve utilization and energy budgets were compared in tailed and tailless adult female Coleonyx brevis. Carcass, fat body and caudal energy reserves were used for vitellogenesis; mass and energy content (cal/mg and/or cal/reserve) of each were significantly lower at oviposition than at the initiation of vitellogenesis. Total energy reserves accounted for 53% of the reproductive energy investment in tailed females compared to 29% in tailless females. Tailed females had over twice as many reserve calories for egg production than tailless females. Caudal energy reserves represented 60% of the total reserves of tailed females and were one-third greater than the total energy reserves of tailless females. To produce a clutch of eggs both tailed and tailless females supplemented energy reserves with net metabolizable energy that was available after metabolic costs were paid. Tailless females had a significantly greater rate of food ingestion and more net metabolizable energy available for reproduction than tailed females, yet allocated significantly fewer calories/day to reproduction than tailed females, primarily because of the loss of caudal reserves. Reproductive efforts of tailed and tailless females were equivalent. However, the loss of caudal reserves resulted in the production of eggs that were significantly lower in mass and energy content (cal/mg and cal/egg) than when caudal reserves were used. Results empirically support the hypothesis that reproduction has energetic priority over tail regeneration in short-lived, iteroparous species with a low probability of future reproductive success.

Lizard Tail Autotomy: Function and Energetics of Postautotomy Tail Movement in Scincella lateralis

Handling of autotomized, thrashing and autotomized, exhausted tails of the lizard Scincella lateralis by mammals and snakes was tested to examine the function of postautotomy tail movement. Tail movement attracted a mammals attack to the tail, permitting the lizard to escape and increased the time required for a snake to subdue a tail before swallowing it, increasing the lizards escape time by 40 percent. Lactate concentrations of autotomized tails after movement were compared to those of intact tails after rest in S. lateralis, a species with a high rate of autotomized tail thrashing, and Anolis carolinensis, a species with a low rate of thrashing. Postautotomy movement increased tail lactate concentration in both species, but mean tail lactate concentration in S. lateralis was 60 percent higher than that in A. carolinensis, and a third higher than that reportedfor whole-body lactate content of the very mobile lizard Dipsosaurus dorsalis.

Sperm count in earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) as a biomarker for environmental toxicology: Effects of cadmium and chlordane

Earthworms, Lumbricus terrestris, exposed in artificial soil to sublethal concentrations of technical chlordane (6.25, 12.5, and 25 ppm) and cadmium nitrate (100, 200, and 300 ppm) exhibited significant reduction in spermatozoa from testes and seminal vesicles. The onset time of reduction varied with exposure concentration, but absolute depression in sperm count was independent of exposure concentration or exposure duration after reduction was first manifested, demonstrating a threshold effect. Earthworm sperm counts show potential as a rapid-measurement endpoint biomarker for measuring sublethal effects of chemical pollutants on reproduction.

Thermal acclimation and metabolism in the allegheny mountain salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus

Abstract 1. 1. Oxygen consumption measurements were made at 5, 10, 15 and 20°C on Desmognathus ochrophaeus salamanders acclimated at these temperatures. 2. 2. Partial acclimation, observed in groups acclimated at 10, 15 and 20°C, correlates with the ability of D. ochrophaeus to maintain relatively constant activity levels in the field during seasonal temperature variations from 10 to 20°C. 3. 3. Undercompensation, observed in the group acclimated at 5°C, suggests there is a metabolic “shut-down” associated with the winter torpor observed in D. ochrophaeus . 4. 4. Groups acclimated at 10, 15 and 20°C displayed thermal homeostasis between 5 and 10°C. This would enable D. ochrophaeus to remain active during early spring and fall when temperatures temporarily fall below 10°C.

Thermal acclimation and metabolic rates in the dusky salamander Desmognathus fuscus.

1. 1. Oxygen consumption determinations were made at 5, 10, 15 and 20°C on Desmognathus fuscus salamanders acclimated at these temperatures. 2. 2. Partial acclimation in the 10, 15 and 20°C acclimation groups correlates with the salamanders relatively constant activity in the field during seasonal temperature variations from 10 to 20°C. 3. 3. All groups showed low metabolic sensitivity to temperatures in the 5–15°C range. 4. 4. Undercompensation in the 5°C acclimation group suggests there is a metabolic repression associated with the salamanders winter torpor.

Influence of seasonal temperatures on the energy budget and metabolic rates of the northern two-lined salamander Eurycea bislineata bislineata

Abstract 1. 1. Rates of ingestion, egestion, assimilation, respiration and production were measured at 5, 10, 15, and 20°C in Eurycea bislineata acclimated at these temperatures. 2. 2. Patterns of partial metabolic (O2 consumption rates) compensation to short-term changes in temperatures and acclimation are adaptive and correspond to thermal conditions in the salamanders northeastern Ohio ravine habitats. 3. 3. These patterns are compared with those for other salamander species and differences reflect differences in their respective habitats. 4. 4. Effects of temperature on the rates of ingestion, egestion, assimilation, respiration and production indicate that the optimal temperature range for E. bislineata is 15–20°C.

Metabolic compensation to seasonal temperatures in the rusty lizard, Sceloporus olivaceus

Abstract 1. 1. Overall mean oxygen consumption rates of Sceloporus olivaceus acclimated in the laboratory at 15 and 20°C (104.9 and 184.9 μl O 2 g −1 hr −1 ) were significantly higher than rates of those acclimated at 25 and 30°C (111.4 and 97.9 μl O 2 g −1 hr −1 ). Differences between “cold”-acclimated (15 and 20°C) and between “warm”-acclimated (25 and 30°C) groups were not significant, suggesting an acclimation threshold between 20 and 25°C. 2. 2. Laboratory-acclimated lizards showed Precht Type 3 metabolic compensation with relatively temperature-insensitive acute metabolic rates at 20, 25 and 30°C. 3. 3. The overall mean rate of lizards collected seasonally (i.e. acclimatized lizards) when ambient temperatures were near 15°C (201.1 μl O 2 g −1 hr −1 ) was significantly higher than rates of lizards collected when ambient temperatures were near 20, 25 and 30°C (138.6, 148.1 and 130.4 μl O 2 g −1 hr −1 ).

Metabolic compensation to temperature in the salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus from a high elevation population

1. 1. Rates of O2 consumption were measured at 5, 10, 15 and 20°C in montane Desmognathus ochrophaeus from the southern Appalachians acclimated at these temperatures. 2. 2. Partial metabolic compensation was demonstrated over a range of seasonal temperatures (10–20°C) encountered by active D. ochrophaeus. 3. 3. Temperature-insensitivity was shown in acute metabolic rates during short-term changes in temperatures (5–10°C) similar to those encountered by active D. ochrophaeus during early spring and fall. 4. 4. Inverse metabolic compensation was shown in the 5°C acclimation group at a temperature (5°C) commonly encountered during their brumation. 5. 5. These adaptive patterns of metabolic compensation are similar to those in D. ochrophaeus from the northwestern extreme of its range in Ohio.

Fatty acid distribution of lipids from carcass, liver and fat bodies of the lizard, Cnemidophorus tigris, prior to hibernation

Abstract 1. 1. Male and female Cnemidophorus tigris caught in late August were studied for lipid and fatty acid content of carcass, liver and abdominal fat bodies. 2. 2. Fat bodies contained the highest percentage of lipids (66–97 per cent) while livers and carcasses contained 10–48 per cent and 2–14 per cent, respectively. 3. 3. Major fatty acids were myristic, palmitic, palimitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids.