The Use of Respirometer

Dianne Chabira

Syringe
Screw tap Scale (1mm2) Gauze in which organisms are placed Soda lime

The respirometer can show the: volume of oxygen that has been inspired/consumed by an organism Volume of carbon dioxide expired/produced by the organism

Oxygen consumed Pressure drops In right tube Maggots

Air moves in from the left tube

CO2 expired is absorbed by soda lime, so it does not affect the pressure in the tube

Oxygen consumed Air moves in from the left tube

Liquid/ink moves in the right tube towards the organisms Pressure drops In right tube

CO2 expired is absorbed by soda lime, so it does not affect the pressure in the tube

 The purpose of the syringe: change pressure in the right tube at the beginning so that blue ink is level. x

The distance moved by the blue ink can be measure from 1mm2 scale placed behind capillary tubing

 If the length of the capillary tube is measured, then the cross section area of the tube can be found at any point Multiplying this by the movement of ink in mm will result in a volume. E.g. volume of O2 inspired by the small organisms

The respirometer can show the: volume of oxygen that has been inspired/consumed by an organism Volume of carbon dioxide expired/produced by the organism

 If soda lime is removed from the right tube, and the experiment repeated, then CO2 from the maggots will be placed back into the environment

 If the respiratory substrate is a carbohydrate, the ink should not move. Volume of O2 consumed = volume of CO2 produced Hence, no pressure change in respirometer.

What happens when the respiratory substrate is NOT carbohydrate, but proteins or fats?

The volume of oxygen consumed/inspired may be larger or smaller than the volume of carbon dioxide produced/expired If so, movement of ink will be either Down (more CO2 expired than O2 inspired) Up, but not as much (more O2 inspired than CO2 expired)

Scenario A: More O2 inspired

Experiment To H2O To maggots movement of ink UP, but not as much. Hence, volume of CO2 produced =xy Liquid is pushed away X mm Control (x soda lime) To maggots To H2O y mm

Scenario B: MORE CO2 expired

Experiment To H2O To maggots X mm Control (x soda lime) To maggots To H2O movement of ink DOWN, more CO2 produced Hence, volume of CO2 produced is = x + y (away from the liquid)

y mm

 The respiratory quotient must therefore be used to determine the respiratory substrate. Therefore, the carbon dioxide production of a small animal and their respiratory substrate can be measured.