Investigating the Effect Temperature has on the Metabolic Rate of Blaptica Dubia

Abstract

The purpose of the experiment our group chose is to determine the correlation between the environmental temperature and the way it affects the metabolic rates of Blaptica dubia. Our hypothesis predicts that the B. dubia’s metabolic rate will increase when put in a hot temperature and that it will decrease when put into a cold temperature.  To conduct the study, weput two B. dubia’s  in a large bio chamber and measured the carbon dioxide output over a period of five minutes to determine the rate of their metabolism. The results on the graph displayed the correlation between temperature and metabolic rate. We found that our hypothesis was not supported because the metabolic rate in the cold temperature increased instead of decreasing as we had originally thought. To improve the results of our study, we would change the experiment to use three or more B. Dubia. It would also be beneficial to do similar experiments using different ectotherms to gain a better understanding of the correlation between temperature and metabolic rate.