Authors

Erin E. Gooden

Document Type

Honors Project

First Advisor

Dr. Michael Hensley

Degree Award Date

Spring 1996

Keywords

Oxygen Consumption Rates, Chicken Embryos

Disciplines

Animal Sciences | Biology | Ornithology

Abstract

Under normal atmospheric conditions (temperature and humidity) and rotation of the chick eggs everyday, the oxygen consumption of 16 eggs was measured over a 13 day period using a small mammal respirometer. All eggs were similar in size and shape. A smooth curve showing increased respiration rates consistent with a growth pattern was expected for the live embryos; however, the curve consisted of one distinct plateau. In addition, there were no significant differences between the curves of live and dead chick embryos until day 12. After day 12, the live embryo curves showed an increase, whereas the dead embryo curves decreased. The plateau was the decisive point at which the two curves "alive" and "dead" differentiated.

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