European Polistine wasps inhabit mainly temperate and warm climate regions. However, the paper wasp Polistes biglumis represents an exception; it resides in mountainous areas, e.g., in the Alps and in the Apennines. In these habitats, the wasps are exposed to a broad temperature range during their lifetime. We investigated whether they developed adaptations in their metabolism to their special climate conditions by measuring their CO2 production. The standard or resting metabolic rate and the metabolism of active wasps was measured in the temperature range which they are exposed to in their habitat in summer. The standard metabolic rate increased in a typical exponential progression with ambient temperature, like in other wasps. The active metabolism also increased with temperature, but not in a simple exponential course. Some exceptionally high values were presumed to originate from endothermy. The simultaneous measurement of body temperature and metabolic rate revealed a strong correlation between these two parameters. The comparison of the standard metabolic rate of Polistes biglumis with that of Polistes dominula revealed a significantly lower metabolism of the alpine wasps. This energy saving metabolic strategy could be an adaptation to the harsh climate conditions, which restricts foraging flights and energy recruitment.

中文翻译：

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来自山区的纸蜂Polistes biglumis的呼吸代谢。

欧洲波利斯汀黄蜂主要栖息在温带和温暖的气候地区。但是，纸蜂黄蜂Polistes biglumis代表一个例外。它居住在山区，例如阿尔卑斯山和亚平宁山脉。在这些栖息地中，黄蜂在其一生中会暴露于广泛的温度范围内。我们通过测量二氧化碳的产生来调查他们是否在新陈代谢方面适应了特殊的气候条件。在夏季他们的栖息地所暴露的温度范围内，测量活性黄蜂的标准代谢率或静息代谢率和代谢率。与其他黄蜂一样，标准代谢率随着环境温度的升高呈典型的指数级增长。活性代谢也随温度增加而增加，但没有简单的指数过程。推测某些异常高的值是由吸热引起的。同时测量体温和代谢率表明这两个参数之间有很强的相关性。大肠list和小肠Po的标准代谢率比较表明，高山黄蜂的代谢明显降低。这种节能的代谢策略可以适应恶劣的气候条件，从而限制了觅食飞行和能量收集。