The Concept
Cost and animal welfare concerns are two of the greatest impediments to teaching animal physiology effectively. To address these concerns, Qubit Systems has developed inexpensive but extremely accurate sensors and equipment for non-invasive, real-time monitoring of animal gas exchange.
You can use our Low Range Respiration Package to study small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and other invertebrates, and even colonies of fungi and microorganisms. Qubit Systems' gas exchange technology is inexpensive enough for your teaching laboratory, yet it has the sensitivity and accuracy required for many research applications.
 
Procedure
The components of the Respiration Package are configured in an open-flow gas exchange system. The Logger Pro software supplied with the Respiration Package allows up to four variables to be monitored simultaneously. Data from the O2 Sensor, Infrared CO2 Analyzer and Temperature Sensor (or optional environmental sensors) are displayed on-screen immediately as they are collected. This allows students to observe changes in an organism's O2 uptake and CO2 output as it responds to altered environmental conditions. Logger Pro's sophisticated data-handling features enable students to analyze and graph the stored data easily.

The RP1LP Package Includes:
G100 AC Gas Pump
G113 Animal Chamber (2cm ID)
G115 Animal Chamber (3.7cm ID)
G119 Animal Chamber Accessories Kit
G122 Large Gas Bags
G134 Qubitac (100 g)
F1000 Flow Meter
S102 Flow Through O2 Sensor
S132 Temperature Sensor
S151 Infrared CO2 Analyzer (Includes CO2 and H2O scrubbers)
C410 LabPro Interface
C901 Logger Pro Software
C404 Customized Setup Software
Instructor's and Student's Manuals

LOW RANGE RESPIRATION PACKAGE (WITH FLOW METER)

The RP1LP-FCM Package Includes:

G100 AC Gas Pump
G113 Animal Chamber (2cm ID)
G115 Animal Chamber (3.7cm ID)
G119 Animal Chamber Accessories Kit
G122 Large Gas Bags
G134 Qubitac (100 g)
G265 Flow Controller & Monitor (0-2000 mL/min)
S102 Flow Through O2 Sensor
S132 Temperature Sensor
S151 Infrared CO2 Analyzer (Includes CO2 and H2O scrubbers)
C410 LabPro Interface
C901 Logger Pro Software
C404 Customized Setup Software
Instructor's and Student's Manuals

LOW RANGE RESPIRATION PACKAGE (WITH FLOW CONTROLLER & MONITOR)

With Qubit's Low Range Respiration Package, you can:

Compare the metabolic rates of different organisms
Determine metabolic rate during sleep and various levels of activity
Investigate the effect of temperature on metabolism
Observe the metabolic effects of pharmaceuticals and special diets
Conduct investigations in equilibrium biochemistry and energy balance
Examine the effect of diet on respiratory exchange ratio
Measure respiration or fermentation in a yeast suspension
Measure respiration in aqueous and plated cell cultures
Measure respiratory fluxes from microorganisms living in soil
Measure respiration in root systems
In fact, our equipment can be used to measure the O2 consumption and CO2 production of almost any biological system. For aqueous systems, an Erlenmeyer flask may be used as the sample chamber. A flask stopper with special fittings is provided with the Low Range Respiration Package.
To determine O2 uptake in very small organisms and organisms with very low metabolic rates, the O2 sensor can be incorporated directly into a sealed sample chamber. Metabolic rate may then be calculated from the rate of O2 depletion.

Optional Additions:
If you have the Low Range Respiration Package, you can measure photosynthesis, photorespiration and respiration in leaves by purchasing the G112 Flow Through Leaf Chamber, A101 Laboratory Stand, and the A113 LED Light Source (or the Halogen Light Source (A111) and Light Sensor (S141)).

For more accurate measurements of respiration, consider adding a Flow Controller and Monitor to your system. Check out the RP1LP-FCM package for more information regarding the Flow Controller and Monitor.

For a less expensive system to measure respiration, consider the RP1LP package which uses a rotameter flow meter instead of the Digital Flow Controller & Monitor.

Producing Area:Canada