Effect of temperature change on the metabolic rate of an antarctic mite

Measurements of metabolic rate in the terrestrial miteAlaskozetes antarcticus showed that the ability for metabolic temperature compensation is lacking in adults of this species. Animals cultured at 0 and 10°C displayed similar metabolic rates when transferred to 5 or 10°C, and individuals cultured at 0°C and measured at 0, 5 and 10°C showed the same metabolic response as animals cultured and measured at each of these temperatures. These findings, which suggest thatA. antarcticus does not regulate its metabolism in response to changes in temperature, are discussed in the context of the environmental temperature patterns experienced by the animal in the field.