An investigation was carried out into the respiratory substrates of three different genera of desert beetles by measuring their rate of carbon dioxide production and oxygen consumption under controlled conditions. The data are shown in the table below:
| Genus | CO2\text{CO}_2CO2 produced (μl min−1)(\mu\text{l}\,\text{min}^{-1})(μlmin−1) | O2\text{O}_2O2 consumed (μl min−1)(\mu\text{l}\,\text{min}^{-1})(μlmin−1) |
|---|---|---|
| Adesmia | 4.50 | 4.48 |
| Pimelia | 2.82 | 4.03 |
| Blaps | 3.51 | 4.39 |
Calculate the respiratory quotient (RQ) for each beetle genus and suggest the primary dietary substrate (carbohydrate, lipid, or protein) metabolized by each. Justify your suggestions.
Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide found in the plant-based diet of certain beetles. State two structural similarities and two structural differences between the polymers cellulose and glycogen.
