Flow-through Respirometry: Incurrent Flow Measurement

Abstract

This chapter describes the setup, plumbing, and equations required for applying a respirometry system wherein the flow rate of the air entering the animal chamber is known. Such systems are usually referred to as push systems, because the air is usually pushed into a sealed respirometer chamber at a known rate, and the concentrations of incurrent and excurrent gases are alternately measured. Setups and equations for oxygen-only, carbon dioxide-only, and combined oxygen and carbon dioxide systems are described. Methods for creating multiple-animal push mode respirometry systems and for the automatic baselining (that is to say, measuring incurrent gas concentrations) of respirometry systems are also discussed.