Measuring O2 Consumption in Drosophila melanogaster Using Coulometric MicrorespirometrySophia R. Ford *1, Jose Ildefonso Flores *1, David J. Sandstrom 1
1Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Universities at Shady Grove
Coulometric respirometry is ideal for measuring the metabolic rate of small organisms. When adapted for Drosophila melanogaster in the present study, measured O2 consumption was within the range reported for wildtype D. melanogaster by previous studies. Per-fly O2 consumption by CASK mutants, which are smaller and less active, was significantly lower than the wildtype.