Cornell University
Library
Cornell UniversityLibrary

eCommons

Help
Log In(current)
  1. Home
  2. Undergraduate Honors Theses
  3. College of Arts and Sciences Honors Theses
  4. Biological Sciences Honors Theses
  5. Assessing Differences in Desiccation Tolerance in Two Species of Hawaiian Swordtail Cricket

Assessing Differences in Desiccation Tolerance in Two Species of Hawaiian Swordtail Cricket

File(s)
LamVincent_2022_Thesis.pdf (604.66 KB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/111441
Collections
Biological Sciences Honors Theses
Author
Lam, Vincent
Abstract

Two species of Hawaiian swordtail cricket, L. orientalis and L. makaio, inhabit different locations on the island of Maui in the Hawaiian archipelago, generally with L. orientalis residing in a region of higher, and L. makaio inhabiting a region of lower, rainfall. This difference in habitation exposes the two species to different levels of humidity, with L. orientalis being subjected to greater levels of moisture than L. makaio, when controlling for elevation. It may be possible that these species’ distinct habitats are a result of different humidity preferences. These distributions in turn may be influenced by the different compositions of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) that coat the surface of their bodies and prevent desiccation. To test whether such differences in desiccation resistance may exist, individuals from each species were subjected to a series of desiccation tolerance experiments, which measured the length of time in which each species could survive arid conditions. Additionally, the CHC profiles of each species were analyzed by extracting the CHCs from individuals of each species and running them through gas chromatography. The results of these experiments do not reveal a statistically significant difference in the survivability of L. orientalis and L. makaio in arid environments, though a difference in CHC profiles has been observed.

Date Issued
2022-05
Keywords
Biological sciences honors program
•
Evolution
•
Ecology
•
Laupala
•
Cuticular Lipids
•
Hydrocarbons
Degree Discipline
Biological Sciences
Degree Name
B.A., Biological Sciences
Degree Level
Bachelor of Arts
Type
dissertation or thesis

Site Statistics | Help

About eCommons | Policies | Terms of use | Contact Us

copyright © 2002-2026 Cornell University Library | Privacy | Web Accessibility Assistance