Abstract
Insects show discontinuous gas exchange patterns (DGC) when metabolic rates are low, however if metabolic rate increases, the insect gas exchange pattern changes to meet aerobic demand. We have previously demonstrated that an increase in metabolic rate, as a result of increased temperature, causes insects to transition from DGC to cyclic to a more continuous GEP. We report here on the effects of increasing metabolic rates through feeding. In the insect Rhodnius prolixus, metabolic rates can increase ten‐fold after a blood meal. These insects therefore provide an excellent model for studying the effects of feeding on insect GEP. We will report comparisons of GEP in Rhodnius at identical metabolic rates achieved by varying temperature or feeding, respectively. Our goal is to understand the relationship between metabolic rate and GEP.
Funding: APS Porter Physiology Development Award, NSF grant 105‐0920683