Discontinuous CO2 Emission in a Small Insect, the Formicine Ant <i>Camponotus Vicixus</i>

Abstract

ABSTRACT Standard rates of oxygen consumption and CO2 production were measured by constant-volume respirometry in the formicine ant, Camponotus vicinus Mayr, at temperatures ranging from 10 to 40°C. Over this range, the Q10 with regard to was 1·79, and with regard to , 1·84. Multiple regression equations relating and of inactive ants to mass (0·016–0·088 g) and temperature were calculated. Periodic CO2 emissions (‘bursts’) were monitored with flow-through respirometry. Burst frequency increased exponentially with temperature (Q10 = 3·05), from 8·14h−1 at 15°C to 81·4h−1 at 35°C, and was not significantly correlated with body mass over the mass range (0·041–0·086g) investigated. Burst volume, which could be accurately measured in one ant, decreased with temperature (Q10= 0·61), thus yielding the observed Q10 of 1·84.