Flow-through respirometry (Nymphalidae)

Knowledge graph centered on Flow-through respirometry (Nymphalidae) with 59 nodes and 190 connections. Top connected: Bombus, Ligusticum porteri, Bombus terrestris, Bombus appositus, Bombus impatiens.

Method synopsis

CO2 emission measurement using flow-through respirometry to quantify resting metabolic rate and flight metabolic capacity in individual butterflies. Includes forced flight trials with chamber agitation.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 3 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Carry-over effects of larval food stress on adult energetics and life history in a nectar-feeding butterfly (2022), Ecological Entomology. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Measure resting metabolic rate
   RMR measured as CO2 emission rate using flow-through respirometry on first full day after emergence and every third day thereafter. Individual kept in 1-litre respirometry chamber in darkness. CO2 emission measured after 1.5 min acclimation for calculation of RMR, then flight measurement initiated
   Quantities: Measurements on day 1 and every 3rd day thereafter, 1.5 min acclimation periodDuration: Throughout adult lifespanConditions: Chamber kept in darkness during measurement
   Equipment: 1-litre respirometry chamber, flow-through respirometry system
2. Measure flight metabolic capacity
   Flight measurement initiated by exposing butterfly to light and stimulating it to fly by shaking chamber for exactly 7 min. CO2 concentration allowed to return to resting baseline and recording terminated. Peak metabolic rate (PMR), total CO2 volume in 7 min (FMR), and CO2 volume in last 3 min calculated
   Quantities: Exactly 7 min flight stimulation, 3 min final measurement periodDuration: 7 min active flight plus return to baselineConditions: Light exposure to stimulate flight
   Equipment: light source, chamber shaking mechanism

Typical Equipment

• 1-litre respirometry chamber
• flow-through respirometry system
• light source

Output Measurements

• resting metabolic rate
• peak metabolic rate
• flight metabolic rate

Papers Using This Protocol (3)

Species Studied With This Protocol