A perspective on insect water balance

Insects have a large ratio of surface area to volume because of their small size; thus, they face the potential for desiccation in the terrestrial environment. Nonetheless, they constitute over half of identified species and their success on land can be attributed, in part, to adaptations that limit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of experimental biology Vol. 225; no. 7
Main Author O'Donnell, Michael J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.04.2022
Subjects
Acclimatization
Adaptation, Physiological
Animals
Insecta
Water-Electrolyte Balance
Cuticle
Malpighian tubule
Respiration
Water vapour absorption
Hindgut
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Summary:Insects have a large ratio of surface area to volume because of their small size; thus, they face the potential for desiccation in the terrestrial environment. Nonetheless, they constitute over half of identified species and their success on land can be attributed, in part, to adaptations that limit water loss and allow for effective gains of water from food, fluids or atmospheric water vapour. Reduction of water loss from the gut involves sophisticated mechanisms of ion recycling and water recovery by epithelia of the Malpighian tubules and hindgut. Water loss across the body surface is greatly reduced by the evolution of very thin but highly impermeable lipid-rich layers in the epicuticle. Respiratory water loss can be reduced through effective spiracular control mechanisms and by mechanisms for convective rather than diffusive gas exchange. In addition to extracting water from food sources, some insects are capable of absorption of atmospheric water vapour through processes that have evolved independently in multiple groups.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
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ISSN:0022-0949
1477-9145
DOI:10.1242/jeb.242358