Modification of a Compact Refrigerator for Bio-Ecological Studies Under Controlled Physical Parameters

Abstract

The need for dependable control of environmental parameters in bio-ecological studies has long been recognized. Many custom-built laboratory environmental chambers have been reported in the literature, and some are commercially available. The custom-built chambers are usually modified refrigerators (White and DeBach 1960) or they are fabricated from plywood, sheet metal, or plastic (Flitters and Messinger 1956; MacPhee and Patterson 1958; Jackson 1961). Most chambers are designed to produce constant temperatures with supplemental humidity control, air circulation, and light control (MacPhee and Patterson 1958; Jackson 1961, Scott 1968). Some are capable of programmed temperature control (Flitters and Messinger 1956; White and DeBach 1960). Commercial chambers are usually less specialized in function and more elaborate in design than custom chambers. This apparently is an attempt to maximize the adaptability of the chamber to a wider range of research programs.