Jumping and Hissing for Metabolism: Does Size Affect Metabolic Rate?

Abstract

Abstract

Numerous investigations have concluded that temperature has a major effect of the amount of carbon dioxide an ectotherm produces. We decided to see what effect an ectotherm’s body mass would have on its metabolic rate. In this experiment we tested Gromphadorhina portentosa, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, and Acheta domestica, crickets. We hypothesized that the cockroaches would produce more carbon dioxide than crickets at room temperature, because the cockroaches have a larger mass than the crickets. To test this hypothesis, we ran five minute trials with groups of 10 crickets and 3 Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. We placed them in small respiration chambers, and we measured the percent of oxygen the animals consumed. Contrary to our belief, we found that the crickets consumed more oxygen than the Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. This means that they produced more carbon dioxide and their metabolic rate was higher.  This shows that the smaller an ectothermic animal is, the higher its metabolic rate will be.