The Metabolic Rate of Acheta Domesticus Crickets Responds to Extreme Temperatures

Abstract

Crickets, of the Gryllidae Acheta Domesticus species, are classified as ectotherms (French 2016). Ectotherms have body temperature that is directly correlated to the temperature of the environment in which they live. Metabolic rates are regulated by body temperature as well (Brooks 2015). We decided that previous studies concerning the relation of the metabolic rate of crickets to outdoor temperatures did not focus on testing the metabolic rate of the crickets exposed to extreme temperatures. We decided to expose the crickets to three different temperatures and measure the rate that carbon dioxide was produced at each temperature. We found our hypothesis was supported in that the cricket’s metabolic rate rose with the temperature. This information shows that crickets are effected by temperature. They will likely be less active in the winter and more active in the summer.