College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2025-05-09 09:09:37
Major
Biomedical Science
Honors Course
BIOL 399
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2025
Abstract
Energy drinks have become the drink of choice among many college students due to the rush of energy it provides via the megadose of caffeine (Vercammen et al. 2019). Because of their newfound popularity, there is much research to be done about the effects on human physiology. Energy drinks are known to increase endurance in muscles of rat subjects (Imagawa et al. 2009) and stimulate enhanced “alertness” (Smit & Rogers, 2002). The purpose of this research was to uncover the potential effects that energy drinks have on metabolic rate and/or stress responses in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), with the intent of applying the implications to human consumers. Four treatment groups (caffeine, taurine, Redbull, and deionized water as a control) were administered via tube-feeding. At regular time intervals, water samples were tested for ammonia concentration, which served as an indicator of metabolic rate and stress (Pillai & Diwan, 2002). Their physical activity was quantified prior to sample collection to observe potential differences in locomotion between the treatment groups over time. It was ultimately determined that ammonia concentration increased over time among all treatment groups. There were no significant differences in ammonia concentration or accumulation rate among the treatment groups, suggesting no effect of Redbull on the metabolic rate or stress response of crayfish. Activity measurements yielded a similar response, with no significant differences among treatment groups. However, future research may be conducted to test physiological effects of energy drinks on crayfish using different indicators, such as glucose concentration of hemolymph (Bonvillain et al. 2012)
Research Sponsor
Dr. Brian Bagatto
First Reader
Dr. Richard Londraville
Second Reader
Dr. Rachel Olson
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Brian Bagatto
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Sweeney, Melyna, "Effects of Energy Drinks on Crayfish Physiology" (2025). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2038.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2038
Included in
Animal Experimentation and Research Commons, Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition Commons, Endocrinology Commons, Other Chemicals and Drugs Commons