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The Heat is On: Temperature Sensation in Monarch Butterflies (Danaus Plexippus)

Stratton, Samuel M
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1627666480991126

Abstract Details

2021, MS, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Biological Sciences.
Temperature imposes a wide array of pressures on ectotherms as they cannot thermoregulate via internal processes. As such, ectotherms such as butterflies have developed behavioral strategies that enable them to utilize the thermal resources in their environment, such as microhabitats, to aid with thermoregulation and key biological processes. For butterflies, however, little is currently known on the neuroethological mechanisms that mediate temperature sensation. The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) provides an ideal system to start addressing these questions as their migratory biology requires the maintenance of thermally controlled migratory phenotypes, and since locating their overwintering sites, that provide them with the key microclimate to survive a dangerous overwintering period, might require sensing these areas via temperature cues. Therefore, in this work I used two separate assays to better understand how the monarch can sense temperature: 1) a thermal gradient assay to test for thermotaxis and 2) a thermal preference assay in which I also examined the potential role of the antennae in thermosensation. To address the first question, I used a thermal gradient assay to measure thermotactic responses of the monarch. Here I measured both the positions butterflies selected at one-minute timepoints over a 10min trial and also the total time stopped in the warmest quadrant of the arena. I predicted that monarch butterflies would display positive thermotaxis to the hotter side of the arena when the thermal gradient was present. Results from these experiments indicated that monarch butterflies can sense the thermal cues presented in the assay, as butterflies selected the warm region of the arena regardless of how the gradient was oriented, and this response to one side of the arena no longer occurred when the gradient was turned off. For the second question, I used a two-choice assay, to examine the thermal preferences of monarchs and the potential role of antennae in mediating thermosensation. Here I measured aspects of the positions within the assay the butterflies selected, their movement within the assay, and their wing behaviors at the end of the trial that are indicative of internal body temperature. For this experiment I utilized two treatment groups, one with intact antennae and another with antennae removed. Overall, this experiment indicated that the antennae play a role in thermosensation as the removal of antennae, with respect to intact controls, reduced time spent in the hot end of the assay, reduced movement in response to the thermal stimuli, and butterflies displayed wing behaviors that are suggestive of lower body temperatures. The results from both of my experimental paradigms together demonstrated that monarch butterflies can sense thermal stimuli in their habitat and that the antennae play a significant role for sensing temperature. This research opens the door to new questions concerning how the sensory perception of temperature may influence key migratory traits and how sensing of the thermal microclimate at the overwintering site may be a critical sensory cue that enables the monarch butterfly to return to the same forest year after year despite being on their maiden voyage.
Patrick Guerra, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Theresa Culley, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Stephanie Rollmann, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
59 p.
Biology
monarch butterfly; thermosensation; migratory biology; microhabitats; taxis; movement

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Stratton, S. M. (2021). The Heat is On: Temperature Sensation in Monarch Butterflies (Danaus Plexippus) [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1627666480991126

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Stratton, Samuel. The Heat is On: Temperature Sensation in Monarch Butterflies (Danaus Plexippus). 2021. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1627666480991126.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Stratton, Samuel. "The Heat is On: Temperature Sensation in Monarch Butterflies (Danaus Plexippus)." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1627666480991126

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.