Daphnia Metabolic Rate

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Daphnia magna are a species of small crustaceans found in many lakes and other small bodies of fresh water. Because of their transparent bodies, it is fairly easy to see the heartbeating when using a microscope (Clare, 2002). Many factors can impact the heart rate of these Daphnia, and because of their clear bodies, the change in heart rate is easily observed. “Daphnia is poikilothermic, which means that its body temperature and therefore its metabolic rate are affected directly by the temperature of the environment. The change in metabolic rate is reflected in the rate at which the heart beats (cardiac frequency)” (British Pharmacological Society, 2009).
When exposed to caffeine and alcohol, the heart rate of an organism has been found to