Survivorship of drosophila in nitrogen reduced hypobaric atmospheres.

Populations of Drosophila melanogaster were maintained from eclosure to death in 150 torr oxygen/150 torr nitrogen (300 torr total pressure). Survivorship was identical to siblings maintained in normal atmospheric pressures. The study demonstrates that a significant reduction in atmospheric nitrogen does not affect the toxicity of oxygen at normal partial pressures. The author indicates that this information provides the basis for future studies concerning hypobaric, oxygen-enriched atmospheres.