Monitoring metabolic activities of small animals by means of microcalorimetry

Abstract

The present paper deals with direct and indirect calorimetric experiments on smaller terrestrial and aquatic animals in the range of mg and g wet weight. Especially, the energy metabolism during development and growth, under decrease of oxygen concentration (hypoxia/anoxia) and with adverse or toxic environmental conditions was studied. The results demonstrate the broad versability of direct calorimetry as a sensitive, non-specific and non-invasive method for investigations of living organisms.