Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

A Loligo systems fiber optic, multi-channel intermittent respiratory system for use in crustaceans is requested. The system consists of hardware and software that is used to measure oxygen consumption (MO2) all the way from the cellular level to that of large crustaceans. This funding request also includes a Panasonic waterproof laptop computer to be dedicated to the system. This funding request is to replace a key piece of infrastructure in Dr. McGaw's lab. There is currently an older (>10yr) galvanic oxygen system in the McGaw lab, which has been in use almost constantly by various trainees (Highly Qualified Personnel, HQP). However, it has come to the end of its useful life. The software is no longer supported and the system has crashed on a number of occasions. The probes themselves drift continually which makes longer term experiments impossible and the system is only accurately able to record MO2 in larger animals (>20g). The probes themselves need constant attention and have been replaced on numerous occasions. Thus the type of data and the time to gather accurate data limits the type and length of a lot of the experiments that can be performed. The fibre optic system is far superior to the older galvanic system: it is highly accurate and the sensors do not need maintenance and have almost zero drift which makes it suitable for longer term experiments. The fibre optic system can have long cable lengths (e.g. 20 m) which allows “remote” monitoring. In addition, computers, water chillers and water pumps generate electrical noise that can affect the galvanic probes, the Witrox instruments used in the system have digital wireless Bluetooth communication with the PC, so there are lot less analog data cables and thus a lot less noise. Because the sensors come in a variety of sizes (<50µm) with rapid resolution it will enable Dr. McGaw and his HQP to accurately record long term MO2 over a wide range of different sized organisms. While the measurement of MO2 is not novel, the data gathered are essential for organismal physiology experiments, forming the backbone of many papers, which then lead on to further questions and new projects for HQP. This equipment will be used to train present and future graduate students in the McGaw lab and will be available for other researchers when not in use, and thus, will contribute to the research projects and experience of a large number of trainees HQP. It will form a key piece of laboratory infrastructure that will be heavily used in a wide variety of experiments. As such it will also provide HQP with the knowledge and skills that will be valuable in the academic environment, to government agencies, and to consulting firms and other private sector companies.