Meeting Abstract

P1.115  Sunday, Jan. 4  The Effects of Temperature on Metabolic Rate, Venom Synthesis and Potency in Peucetia viridans (Araneae: Oxyopidae) GALINDO, Joanna*; GALINDO, Gracie; IRWIN, Jason T.; Central Washington Univ.; Central Washington Univ.; Central Washington Univ. galindoj@cwu.edu

We examined the effects of temperature on metabolic rate, venom synthesis and potency in the green lynx spider, Peucetia viridans, from Yavapai County, AZ. After acclimation for 7-12d at 10, 20, or 30°C, metabolic rates were measured using flow-though respirometry (n=14/group). Venom was extracted every 6d using electrical stimulation (n=20, 19, 16, for 10, 20, and 30°C, respectively). Potency was tested by injecting 0.5l of crude venom into crickets (Acheta domesticus), and recording the time from initial injection to loss of the righting response and to death (no visible heartbeat). Metabolic rates increased with temperature (10°C: 0.036+/-0.004; 20°C: 0.107+/-0.018; 30°C: 0.288+/-0.061 lCO₂mg^-1h^-1). After 6d, the volume of venom extracted was considerably higher at 20°C (3.41mg/spider), than 10 (0.478mg/spider) or 30°C (1.002mg/spider). By day 18 venom production was low in all groups. Spiders at 10°C produced very little or no venom throughout the experiment. Crickets injected with venom from spiders at 20°C (n=21) had a faster collapse time and were less likely to recover than those injected with from the 30°C spiders (n=21). Chemical analysis will be conducted in the fall 2008 to identify differences in protein content and composition.