Meeting Abstract

1.10  Friday, Jan. 4  Extrasomatic energy storage in scorpions LIGHTON, J*; BROWNELL, P; Sable Systems International; Oregon State University Lighton@sablesys.com

Why do scorpions have low metabolic rates – if in fact they do? We undertook a rigorous study of scorpion metabolic rates, and found that their metabolic rates are in fact much lower than those of conventional arthropods such as insects and spiders. By analysis of covariance we found that their metabolic rates were only 25% of the expected values. The logical question to ask is why? If we consider that a scorpion, relative to other arthropods, requires only one quarter of the energy needed for basic metabolism, it follows that the remaining energy available to it can be channeled into somatic growth. It is our contention that this explains another widely debated area of scorpion biology: cannibalism. Because of their high trophic efficiency, scorpions can convert food into biomass extremely efficiently. Consequently their unusually high population densities result in high interaction rates. This leads in turn to cannibalism. it is additionally our contention that in effect, adult scorpions are using their young as extrasomatic energy storage reservoirs, further facilitated by the likelihood that juvenile scorpions occupy a predator niche distinct from that of adults. This is all a grotesque (to humans) side effect of their extreme metabolic efficiency. Ken Nagy has data on scorpion field metabolic rates, as yet unpublished, that I hope to analyze to add further light on this deliciously Gothic phenomenon.