Effects of Flashing Light on Gromphadorhina portentosa

Abstract

Carbon dioxide outputs of Gromphadorhina portentosa were measured while the cockroaches’ environment consisted of a flashing light. The Madagascar hissing cockroaches can enlighten the scientific community on how anthropogenic light can impact Gromphadorhina portentosa’s metabolic rate. A flashing light was directed at the Gromphadorhina portentosa for a four minute period while the light was flashed at a five second interval where a CO2 probe was used to measure CO2 output. The experimental group reached a higher CO2 output compared to the control group yet our data was not significant. In conclusion, our data did not support our hypothesis because our population sample was small and extra stress from the environment could have raised respiration levels.