Discussion
In the experiment, the field cricket (Gryllus bimaculotus) and house cricket (Acheta domestica) were tested for their carbon dioxide output. The results showed that the field cricket produced significantly more carbon dioxide than the house cricket. As a species that flies, exists outdoors and is larger than the house cricket, it follows that the field cricket faces more challenges and requires a higher metabolic rate and therefore carbon dioxide output to sustain itself day after day.
Much of a cricket’s life consists of finding food. Where the house and field cricket differ in this aspect is in the fact that the latter is capable of flight, thus being able to move quickly to new food …show more content…
By evolving in different environments and being exposed to different food supplies, it suggests that the environment and food supply that existed over multiple generations had an effect on present day cricket size (Gaston 1988). Due to the relatively large amount of organic material found in a field cricket’s immediate habitat (outdoors) versus the relatively small amount in that of a house cricket’s (indoors), it follows that the two species differ in size. Feeding on grasses, other insects and leaves compared to feeding on clothing, sweat, and other potentially edible material on the side of the house cricket, demonstrates how different food supplies contribute to general body size.
Cell growth and division is regulated by nutrition. In Nijhout’s (2003) research, he found that insulin signaling post-meal is a key mediator in the rate of growth of an insect’s internal organs. Following what Gaston’s research proposed, Nijhout (2003) also supports the notion that a higher food intake leads to a higher body mass and therefore a larger insect