The Effect of Increased Temperature on the Metabolic Rate of Galleria mellonella and Acheta domesticus

Abstract

 Metabolic rate is the rate at which chemical reactions occur within an organism. In this experiment, this variable was measured by the units O2/minute/gram. We hypothesized that if the ambient temperature increases, the metabolic rate increases as well, because chemical reactions occur faster when temperature is increased. The temperatures we used as our independent variables include that of room temperature and that of increased temperature. When we tested the Galleria mellonella ‘wax worms’, we saw that the change in oxygen consumption was 0.07% showing the metabolic rate to be 0.00847 in our controlled group (room temperature). When the ambient temperature was heated, their change in oxygen consumption increased by 0.12% showing the metabolic rate to be 0.01453. This suggests that there is correlation between temperature and metabolic rate.  When we tested the Acheta domesticus ‘house crickets’, we saw that the change in oxygen consumption decreased by 0.172% in our controlled group showing the metabolic rate to be 0.01068 at room temperature. When the ambient temperature was heated, their change in oxygen consumption was decreased by 0.0118% showing the metabolic rate to be 0.00073. This suggests that heat does effect metabolic rates.