Just breathe: metabolic rate at low temperatures is maintained by high oxygen consumption

Abstract

Temperature is one of the largest factors that affects thermoregulation in regards to metabolic rate.  It has been found that acclimation at different temperatures of different species is a metabolic process used to prevent heat loss (Nzama, Downs, Brown, 2010).  In our experiment we tested mice O₂ consumption at cold temperatures and at room temperature by placing mice in chambers at different temperatures and measuring their O₂ consumption.  We predicted that in a colder environment, the mice would consume more oxygen.  Our results suggested this to be true, as the rate of O₂ consumed per gram of mouse was significantly larger than the rate of the room temperature group.