Body Size and Tracheal Function in Insects

像所有动物一样，昆虫细胞必须从大气中获取氧气，并排出挥发性废物——二氧化碳。昆虫使用一种相对独特的呼吸系统——气管呼吸系统来完成这个过程。在气管呼吸系统中，气体主要通过称为气管的充满空气的管道在大气和细胞之间移动。本研究的目的是研究昆虫气管系统功能的基本生理机制，主要以蚱蜢为模型系统。具体而言，本项目将比较不同大小昆虫和不同代谢率昆虫组织的结构与功能之间的关系。气管结构将使用光学和电子显微镜来测量气管尺寸，而气管功能将通过监测暴露于低或高氧水平下的气体交换和通风量来评估。通过改变大气中惰性气体的组成来控制氧气的扩散速率，研究昆虫气管系统中扩散和对流的相对重要性。这项研究对于理解昆虫气管系统的进化，以及对动物气体交换系统的形式和功能之间的关系有重要意义。由于氧气供应影响生长和发育，因此这项研究将与了解昆虫发育以及使用受控大气来减少昆虫侵害有关。该研究项目还将为科学培训做出重大贡献，因为2-3名博士生将获得该奖项的部分资助。

Like all animals, insect cells must obtain oxygen from the atmosphere, and excrete the volatile waste product, carbon dioxide. Insects use a relatively unique type of respiratory system to engage in this process, the tracheal respiratory system. With the tracheal respiratory system, gases move between the atmosphere and the cells primarily via air-filled tubes called trachea. The goal of this study is to investigate the basic physiological mechanisms of function in the insect tracheal system, primarily using grasshoppers as model systems. Specifically, this project will assess the relationship between structure and function comparing insects of different sizes, and insect tissues of different metabolic rates. Tracheal structure will be measured using light and electron microscopy to quantify tracheal dimensions, while tracheal function will be assessed by monitoring gas exchange and ventilation volume in response to exposure to low or high oxygen levels. The relative importance of diffusion and convection in insect tracheal systems will be investigated by manipulating the diffusion rate of oxygen by changing the inert gas composition of the atmosphere. This research will be important for understanding the evolution of the insect tracheal system, and for developing a general understanding of the relationship between form and function in animal gas exchange systems. Because oxygen availability influences growth and development, this research will be relevant to the understanding of insect development, and the use of controlled atmospheres to reduce insect infestations. This research project will also contribute significantly to scientific training, as 2-3 Ph.D. students will be partially funded by this award.