How different temperatures affect respiration rates and metabolic rates of Gromphadorhina portentosa

Abstract

One of the most efficient ways to find an organism’s metabolic rate is to record the CO₂ output and the organism's weight. Varying the ambient temperature results in the different production rates of CO₂ while simultaneously increasing the respiration rate. This rise in the output of CO₂ allowed us to accurately record the metabolic rate. In order to observe this relationship, we conducted an experiment to analyze the changes under different environmental temperatures. We theorized that the cockroach’s CO₂ rate would increase as the temperature increased. Our trials room temperature, hot, and cold, were conducted at 24⁰C, 10⁰C, and 30⁰C respectively.  We then observed how their carbon dioxide rates changed. After calculating their metabolic rates, we found that the metabolic rates and the temperature had a positive correlation. Our data supported our hypothesis. This study was intended to further support previous studies that also showed ectotherms' metabolic rate increases as the temperature of their environment increases.