Why insect energy budgets do not balance

• Published in: Oecologia Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 166 - 169
• Main Author: Wightman, J.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.01.1981
• Subjects: animal physiology; arthropods; entomology

(1) Energy budgets are based upon the equation: C=P+R+FU, where C=consumption, P=production, R=respiration and FU=egesta. In studies of insect energetics, where all four parameters have been measured, the completed budget rarely balances. This can often be traced to inaccuracy in the R term which, w...