DILLON, M.E.*; FRAZIER, M.R.; DUDLEY, R.; Univ. of Washington; Univ. of Washington; Univ. of California, Berkeley: Physiological and biomechanical performance of arthropods at high altitude

A variety of physical parameters that impinge on arthropod physiology exhibit substantial variation with altitude, including temperature, air density, and oxygen partial pressure. Changes in these parameters relative to sea-level conditions can potentially influence development and physiology of diverse arthropod features including body size, tracheal respiration, and thermoregulation. Flight performance of adult pterygotes at high altitude is of particular interest given dual susceptibility of flight capacity to changes in air density and oxygen availability. Synergistic interactions may also ensue between the low temperatures and reduced oxygen of high altitude. On longer time scales, such physical challenges may constrain arthropod vagility, with consequent implicatons for species distributions and diversification.