Surface Area to Volume Ratio and Badgers

Abstract

In this experiment, surface area to Volume ratio and its relation to an organism’s ability to thrive in colder climates is tested. Observations of different species of badgers throughout the world suggest that badgers with a larger mass and longer body length can be found in colder environments (French, 2014). This is believed because surface area to volume ratio allows for a larger animal to thrive in a colder environment, rather than a smaller animal, because of its ability to maintain its heat (Lewis, 1976). Without the ability to maintain heat, animals would not be able to complete basic biochemical and metabolic processes (Hoafnagels, 2012). In an effort to better observe how surface area to volume ratio influences the temperature of organisms in colder climates, we conducted an experiment that would accurately record the changes in temperature in objects made out of clay with different surface area to volume ratios over a period of time by using temperature probes that would record the data on our computer system. This experiment was important in the supporting the claims that surface area to volume ratio plays a role in an organisms ability to survive in cold climates.