The Effects of Temperature on Super Worm (Zophobas morio) Metabolism

Abstract

There have been a multitude of studies on the effects of temperature on metabolism, in both endotherms and ectotherms. Each study done has had varying results that contradict the previous study. We did a comparative study showing the effects of temperature on CO2 levels in ectothermic organisms. Three groups of ten super worms each were utilized in our trials, kept in respiration chambers at three different temperatures. The end results of all three groups were as follows: in our cooled trials, the CO2 levels had an average rate of change of 1.41667 ppm/sec, in our control trials, the CO2 levels had an average rate of change of 2.4875 ppm/sec, and in our heated trials, CO2 levels had an average rate of change of 5.6833 ppm/sec.Our results supported our hypothesis, in that it showed CO2 levels rise more rapidly at higher temperatures and rise less rapidly at lower temperatures.