title: Responses of the whipscorpion, Mastigoproctus liochirus (Arachnida, Uropygi) to environmental humidity.
abstract: Experiments were conducted to determine the responses of third-instar nymphs of the whipscorpion Mastigoproctus liochirus to various moisture (relative humidity) levels under constant temperature conditions, using a linear humidity gradient apparatus. No previous data exist on the water relations of this uropygid. Under saturated conditions (100% RH) animals showed no preference for any section of the chamber. When a humidity gradient was established (20 to 100% RH), whipscorpions exhibited a marked preference for an area of the chamber characterized by 70 to 80% RH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Tampa, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33606, USA. fpunzo@ut.edu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Punzo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ludwig
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D006813:Humidity; D009758:Nymph / Q000502:physiology; D012605:Scorpions / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature