Investigating the Effects of Individually Isolated Conditions on the Metabolic Rate of the Superworm (Zophobas morio)

Abstract

A trial of forced isolation introduces the superworm (Zophobas morio) to an environment in which the superworm undergoes stress and therefore has an increase in metabolic rate. The metabolic rates of the superworms were measured through recorded amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced while undergoing the psychosocial stress of isolation or lack thereof. We evaluated the effect of isolation on the metabolic rate and CO2 production of superworms through 10 trial groups consisting of isolated worms and worms in stable community. Through our analysis, we found that there is no significant difference between the rates of the amount of CO2 produced by an isolated superworm in comparison to the amount of CO2 produced by the community of superworms.