ABSTRACT

A proof-of-concept for the reconstruction of historical temperatures from museum collections of a commonly-occurring saprophagous mite is recounted. Technological readiness level 3 (TRL3) and TRL4 stage-gates were passed for a multiplex bioassay of ambient temperature using re-purposed laboratory data of setal and body sizes of female Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acaridae: Astigmata) individuals. Higher temperatures yielded smaller mites with shorter setae. Partial predictive utility of environmental temperature using a composite scale measure was found for mites field-collected in the UK ($\equiv$TRL5 validation of use). Tyrophagid size in the wild appears individually variable and confounded in the cooler seasons through possible local heating effects (perhaps by virtue of their presence in numbers). Mite shape may change seasonally. Geographically dispersed detailed data-logging of micro-temperatures in the field together with targeted collection and characterization of mites at the same locations and measures of their local density is needed in order to advance such biotechnology to any demonstration of effective use all year round ($\equiv$TRL6) and final use in museum research.

摘要

叙述了从博物馆中常见的腐臭螨的收藏中重建历史温度的概念证明。采用了技术准备水平3（TRL3）和TRL4阶段门，通过使用雌性拟南芥（Tyrophagus putrescentiae ）（A螨科（Acaridae：Astigmata））个体的刚毛和体型的重新用途实验室数据，对环境温度进行了多重生物测定。较高的温度产生较小的螨虫，且具较短的刚毛。在英国现场收集的螨类中，发现了使用复合标度法对环境温度的部分预测效用（$\equiv$TRL5使用验证）。野性中的吞噬体大小似乎是个体可变的，并且在寒冷的季节由于可能的局部加热效应而混杂（也许是由于它们的数量）。螨虫的形状可能会季节性变化。为了将这种生物技术全年推广到有效使用的任何示范中，需要在野外对微观温度进行地理上分散的详细数据记录，并针对相同地点的螨进行有针对性的收集和表征，并对其局部密度进行测量（$\equiv$TRL6）以及在博物馆研究中的最终用途。