Investigating the Breathing Rates of Locusts.
Results
Breathing Rate 30s-1
Percentage CO2
Locust 1
Locust 2
Average of Both
5
22
6
9
0
29
20
24.5
5
54
48
51
20
72
64
68
Conclusion
As you can see from the graphs above, there is a general trend, between the two locusts. The graph shows that the higher the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere that the locust breathes in, the more breaths in 30 seconds that it takes. So when we increased the concentration of carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere of the locust, it will breathe more.
The reason that the locust's breathing rate increases, when there is an increase in the percent of Carbon dioxide in the locusts' environment, is that carbon dioxide directly affects the breathing rate. In locusts, the ventilation centre, in the metathracic ganglion, makes the control of the breathing rate. This is stimulated by nerve signals, which are emitted from carbon dioxide stimuli, which are called chemoreceptors, which are situated in the nerve ganglion. So when the ventilation centre, which is similar to a mammalian ventilation centre, is stimulated, by the carbon dioxide chemoreceptors, it sends a nerve impulse to the muscles in the abdomen of the locust, telling them to speed up their movement of the abdomen, which is the way in which the locust breathes, thereby increasing the breathing rate. By moving their abdomen, more air is drawn into the pores, or spiracles, which are found on the abdomen, which open into a system of tracheal tubes. The trachea are arranged in a regular pattern, some of them running longitudally, and some running transversely. They permit the passage of air to a further system of tubes, the tracheoles, which are very fine interconnected tubes, which are not lined with a cuticle, so can allow gaseous exchange freely across their walls. This depends upon the fact that the tracheoles contain a liquid in varying concentrations, which means that when there is severe muscular activity, lactic acid builds up in the tissues, which creates a higher concentration in the tissue, which draws the water in the tracheoles, which in turn draws the gases from the atmosphere into the tracheoles, which will diffuse into the tissue. So by moving the abdomen more, more air will enter the locust, by a) naturally being sucked in, and b) by moving more, more lactic acid will build up, drawing more air into, and letting more diffuse, where it is needed most, the muscles.
Results
Breathing Rate 30s-1
Percentage CO2
Locust 1
Locust 2
Average of Both
5
22
6
9
0
29
20
24.5
5
54
48
51
20
72
64
68
Conclusion
As you can see from the graphs above, there is a general trend, between the two locusts. The graph shows that the higher the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere that the locust breathes in, the more breaths in 30 seconds that it takes. So when we increased the concentration of carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere of the locust, it will breathe more.
The reason that the locust's breathing rate increases, when there is an increase in the percent of Carbon dioxide in the locusts' environment, is that carbon dioxide directly affects the breathing rate. In locusts, the ventilation centre, in the metathracic ganglion, makes the control of the breathing rate. This is stimulated by nerve signals, which are emitted from carbon dioxide stimuli, which are called chemoreceptors, which are situated in the nerve ganglion. So when the ventilation centre, which is similar to a mammalian ventilation centre, is stimulated, by the carbon dioxide chemoreceptors, it sends a nerve impulse to the muscles in the abdomen of the locust, telling them to speed up their movement of the abdomen, which is the way in which the locust breathes, thereby increasing the breathing rate. By moving their abdomen, more air is drawn into the pores, or spiracles, which are found on the abdomen, which open into a system of tracheal tubes. The trachea are arranged in a regular pattern, some of them running longitudally, and some running transversely. They permit the passage of air to a further system of tubes, the tracheoles, which are very fine interconnected tubes, which are not lined with a cuticle, so can allow gaseous exchange freely across their walls. This depends upon the fact that the tracheoles contain a liquid in varying concentrations, which means that when there is severe muscular activity, lactic acid builds up in the tissues, which creates a higher concentration in the tissue, which draws the water in the tracheoles, which in turn draws the gases from the atmosphere into the tracheoles, which will diffuse into the tissue. So by moving the abdomen more, more air will enter the locust, by a) naturally being sucked in, and b) by moving more, more lactic acid will build up, drawing more air into, and letting more diffuse, where it is needed most, the muscles.
