In heterotherm insects, endothermy implies a high energy cost due to the generation and regulation of body temperature during different activities such as flight, food location, fighting and even walking. We studied the thermoregulation process and the cost of the thermoregulation strategies in two sympatric dung beetles, Sulcophanaeus batesi and S. imperator under heat and cold stress conditions. We used a set of physiological variables to exemplify the capacity of thermolimit respirometry combined with infrared thermography to derive relevant variables capable of describing different thermoregulation syndromes. Habitat use and thermal niche differed notably between S. batesi and S. imperator, reflecting their contrasted thermal requirements. In S. imperator, thermal specialization for high temperatures was observed, being active mainly during the warmer period of the day. On the other hand, thermal adaptation in S. batesi allows its preference for cold exhibiting a morning activity periods, avoiding higher temperatures. The thermophilic strategy used by Sulcophanaeus imperator minimized the energy expenditure produced during the cooling of the body by respiration without thereby endangering higher thermal limits. In this case, S. batesi, the species with a preference for the coldest environments, presented the lowest thermal limits, although the energy cost needed to stay active during cooling was significantly lower than that in S. imperator. Sulcophanaeus imperator and S. batesi showed evident 'economizing' strategies associated with hot and cold environmental conditions, respectively. In contrast, if both species experience a deviation from their thermal optimum, a decrement in their performance could be produced.

中文翻译：

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两只同伴粪便甲虫的体温调节综合症，能量消耗低。

在异温昆虫中，由于在不同的活动（例如飞行，食物定位，战斗甚至步行）中产生并调节体温，吸热会导致能源成本高昂。我们研究了在高温和低温胁迫条件下，两种同伴粪甲虫Sulcophanaeus batesi和S. imperator的温度调节过程和温度调节策略的成本。我们使用了一组生理变量来举例说明热极限呼吸测定法与红外热像仪相结合的能力，以得出能够描述不同温度调节综合征的相关变量。巴氏链球菌和S. imperator之间的生境利用和热生态位显着不同，反映了它们对热量的需求不同。在S. imperator中，观察到高温的热特化，主要在白天温暖的时候活跃。另一方面，巴氏链球菌的热适应使其更喜欢表现出早晨活动期的寒冷，从而避免高温。Sulcophanaeus推进器使用的嗜热策略可将呼吸过程中人体冷却过程中产生的能量消耗降至最低，而不会因此而危及较高的热极限。在这种情况下，尽管在冷却过程中保持活性所需的能量成本明显低于S. imperator，但最喜欢最冷环境的物种S. batesi的热量限制最低。Sulcophanaeus imperator和S. batesi分别显示了与高温和低温环境条件相关的明显的“经济”策略。相反，