Cyclic carbon dioxide release in the dampwood termite, Zootermopsis nevadensis (Hagen)

Real-time traces of CO2 release of pseudergates of the dampwood termite, Zootermopsis nevadensis (Hagen) were obtained using flow-through respirometry. Traces were made at each of six temperatures, between 10 and 35 degrees C. Termites released CO2 in a cyclic pattern at each of the six temperatures. CO, release rate (as (V) over dot(CO2) in ml h(-1)) increased significantly with temperature and body mass. Rate of change in (V) over dot(CO2) with temperature (or Q(10)) was 2.11. Degree of cycling in CO2 traces was estimable using the coefficient of variability. Coefficient of variability for both acyclic and cyclic traces declined exponentially with increasing temperature. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.