The normal growth rate of Blattella germanica L.

✍ Scribed by Woodruff, Laurence C.

• Book ID: 102890713
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1938
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 994 KB
• Volume: 79
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-104X
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.1400790110

✦ Synopsis

FIVE FIGWES

Each organism probably has its own specific size, determined largely by its genetic constitution, but subject to great variation through the influence of the environment. Potential dimensions may be increased or decreased in direct relation to the action of the surrounding medium, but probably not in the same proportion. In all likelihood, more individuals fail to attain their destination than exceed it. Thus, within rather wide limits, every member of a species either is striving toward a definite size against the odds of restricted living conditions or is held in check by a biologic restraint braking against favorable surroundings. Within similar precincts why should not each organism have its own rate of growth, intrinsic in its origin, but influenced by the same extrinsic factors which contribute to size? This specific velocity need not be constant but probably would relate to the finite growth to be made; the physical theory behind it would not demand absolute constancy either throughout the growth of a given individual or among all the members of a species.

During the course of some nutritional research with Blattella germanica L., the necessity developed for determining an ideal growth rate, not only as a standard by which to judge deviations in given cases but as a guide for comparative study. To be sure, such a theoretical prototype has many limitations to its use but at least a basis for quantitative consideration is established. Particularly is this true when significant differences can be recognized in both the velocity and absolute 145