Temperature Effects On Cricket Respiration

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Effects of Temperature on Cricket Respiration

Abstract
Surrounding environments have great effects on crickets. Temperature, for one, is found to greatly influence the respiratory system of crickets. This experiment was designed to quantify the amount of oxygen consumption at varying temperatures. A respirometry system was utilized to find such a number. Through observations and calculations results from the experiment were found. Results from the 16oC system, as shown in Table 1, are as follows. The mean wet weight is 0.3616 grams. The mean fifteen minute reading is 33.55. The mean thirty minute reading is 79.8. The mean forty-five minute reading is 123.95. The mean sixty minute reading is 96.8. The mean corrected sixty minute reading is 100. The mean weight specific respiration is 302.05 ?l O2/g/hr. Results from the 26oC system, as shown in Table 2, are as follows. The mean wet weight is 0.4251 grams. The mean fifteen minute reading is 40. The mean thirty minute reading is 103. The mean forty-five minute reading is 176.2. The mean sixty minute reading is 222.2. The mean corrected sixty minute reading is 296.2. The mean weight specific respiration is 840.92 ?l O2/g/hr. The temperature coefficient calculated for this experiment was found to be 2.78. These results concluded that as temperature increased by 10 oC, respiration rates doubled in Acheta domesticus.





Introduction
Acheta domesticus, commonly known as the house cricket, was introduced to North America from Europe. These crickets have a light colored head with dark bands and vary in length from three to fifty millimeters. They have thin antennae, hind legs, which are modified for jumping, three joint segments in the lower leg, and usually two slender abdominal appendages. House crickets can commonly be found in buildings and refuse heaps and are often used for bait and biological research. These animals feed on plants, animals, clothes, a...