Oorlewing van die skerpioen Opistophthalmus pugnax (Scorpionidae) ná blootstelling aan n letale dosis SO2–gas
Abstract
Survival of the scorpion Opistophthalmus pugnax (Scorpionidae) after exposure to a lethal
dosage SO2
gas. Scorpions are well known for their ability to adapt to dry habitats, scarcity of
food and radioactive radiation. Nothing is known about their response to toxic gases. Results
from this experiment showed that a high dose of 1000 parts per million SO2 was not lethal
for Opistophthalmus pugnax; compare this to humans who cannot tolerate and survive high
SO2 levels. In fact, the oxygen production rate increased from 4.16 μmol/g-1hour-1 to 7.69
μmol/g-1hour-1 after exposure of one hour to SO2. Forty minutes after exposure, ṀO2 was still
nearly twice as high compared with the ṀO2
value at the beginning. Further experiments are
suggested to solve the problem of possible spiracle occlusion caused by SO2