Discontinuous CO2 Emission in a Small Insect, the Formicine Ant Camponotus Vicixus

Standard rates of oxygen consumption (VO2) and CO2 production (VCO2) 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 VO2 was 1.79, and with regard to VCO2, 1.84. Multiple regression equations relating VO2 and VCO2 of inactive ants to mass (0016–0088g) and temperature were calculated. Periodic CO2 emissions (‘bursts') were monitored with flow-through respirometry. Burst frequency increased exponentially with temperature (Q10 = 3.05), from 814h−1at 15°C to 81.4h−1 at 35°C, and was not significantly correlated with body mass over the mass range (0041–0086g) investigated. Burst volume, which could be accurately measured in one ant, decreased with temperature (Q10 = 0.61). thus yielding the observed VCO2 Q10 of 1.84.