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Journal of Experimental Biology 35,383-395 (1958)
Published by Company of Biologists 1958

The Relation of Oxygen Consumption to Body Size and to Temperature in the Larvae of Chironomus Riparius Meigen

R. W. EDWARDS ¹

¹ Pollution Research Unit, Freshwater Biological Association, Water Pollution Research Laboratory, Stevenage, Herts

1. The oxygen consumption rates of 3rd- and 4th-instar larvae of Chironomus riparius have been measured at 10 and 20° C. using a constant-volume respirometer.

2. The oxygen consumption is approximately proportional to the 0.7 power of the dry weight: it is not proportional to the estimated surface area

3. This relationship between oxygen consumption and dry weight is the same at 10 and at 20° C.

4. The rate of oxygen consumption at 20° C. is greater than at 10° C. by a factor of 2.6.

5. During growth the percentage of dry matter of 4th-instar larvae increases from 10 to 16 and the specific gravity from 1.030 to 1.043.

6. The change in the dry weight/wet weight ratio during the 4 larval instar supports the theory of heterauxesis.

7. At 20° C., ‘summer’ larvae respire faster than ‘winter’ larvae.