Temperature Metabolism Dependance in Gromphadorhina portentosa

Abstract

Metabolism, defined as the transformation and transference of energy and materials within an individual, and between the individual and their environment respectively, is highly dependent on the internal body temperature of an organism. Thermoregulatory mechanisms, endothermic or ectothermic, play a role in maintaining this temperature. The body temperatures of ectotherms fluctuate with the environment. Based on this, we predicted increased metabolic activity with elevating temperatures in the ectotherms. We used three Gromphadorhina portentosa, which are ectothermic in nature, in temperature controlled respiration chambers and monitored their CO2 output continuously to investigate the temperate metabolism correlation in ectotherms. The temperatures used were spaced apart as room and colder temperatures. Corroborating our hypothesis, our data revealed that CO2 output increased in the cockroaches with increasing temperature. CO2 is a fundamental output of cellular respiration, a strong indicator of metabolic activity, and as such, our data can be interpreted as measurements of metabolic rates. Other similar studies demonstrate variable findings, necessitating further research before any conclusions can be drawn.