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With flow-through respirometry under video tracking, the CO2 release of adult male and femalePardosa lugubris(wolf spider) andMarpissa muscosa(jumping spider) was measured during rest and activity. Activity metabolism was measured in phases in which the animals were spontaneously active and during forced exercise. Standard metabolic rates (VCO2/t) were 1.43 nmol s-1 g-1 inM. muscosaand 1.7-1.8 nmol s-1 g-1 inP. lugubris. Egg production caused higher resting rates in females compared with the males inP. lugubris. Maximum mass-specific CO2 release, the additional amount of CO2released after activity and the factorial aerobic scope were higher inM. muscosa. Additionally, half-time recovery and the lag between end of activity and maximum CO2 release were lower in the jumping spider. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the well-developed tracheal system in jumping spiders increases the efficiency of the respiratory system in comparison with wolf spiders, which possess similarly developed lungs but only a simple tracheal system that is restricted to the opisthosoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the morphological diffusing capacity of the lungs and the secondary trachea of jumping spiders. Role of the tracheal system in gas exchange in jumping spiders; Percentage of the total tracheal diffusing capacity; Function of the secondary tube trachea as tracheal lungs.