Glossary

BP

Barometric pressure

F

Fractional concentration of a given gas, such as FO2; usually distinguished by whether the concentration is measured entering a respirometer chamber(incurrent; Fi) or leaving it (excurrent; Fe)

FR

Flow rate of air through a chamber or into a mask (mass flow rate is assumed unless stated otherwise)

MR

Metabolic rate

Q10

The ratiometric increase of an ectotherm’s metabolic rate over a 10°C rise in body temperature; usually has a value close to 2.0

RH

Relative humidity, the percentage of water vapor pressure in the environment relative to the maximum (saturated) water vapor pressure possible at the temperature of measurement

RQ

Respiratory quotient; ratio of CO2 emitted to O2 consumed; typically falls within the range 0.7–1.0 for aerobic catabolism of fats and carbohydrates, respectively; proteins yield intermediate values based on their mix of amino acids

STP

Standard temperature and pressure; gas volume is typically corrected from ambient conditions to STP (0°C and 101.325 kPa)

VH2O

Rate of water vapor loss, often expressed as milliliters per minute, milliliters per hour, or in mass equivalents

VO2

Rate of O2 consumption, often expressed as milliliters per minute, milliliters per hour, micromoles per second, etc.

VCO2

Rate of CO2 emission, often expressed as milliliters per minute, milliliters per hour, micromoles per second, etc.

WVP

Water vapor pressure