Chapter 13: Biocalorimetry of Plants, Insects and Soil Microorganisms

The chemistry in living organisms happens in aqueous media, and measuring metabolic heat rates and rates of biochemical reactions in vivo can provide powerful insights into the relation between metabolism and performance of organisms. The respiratory biochemistry of all organisms has commonalities that make it possible to interpret measured rates in terms of performance rates and to interpret the ratios of heat rate to oxidant or product such as CO₂ in terms of metabolic efficiencies. Current models for analysis of biocalorimetric data are given together with examples of recent applications to plant science, insect biology, and soil microbial metabolism.