Ambient Temperature Influence on the Metabolic Rate of Mice

Abstract

A company that ships pets wanted to know why certain animals eat more at certain temperatures than others or than they do at other temperatures (French, 2014). We are observing the effects of ambient temperature variation on the oxygen consumption (metabolic rate) of mice. The problem we face is why endotherms consume different amounts of oxygen at different temperatures. We used 4 mice subjects of different weights and measured their oxygen consumption in three temperature environments. The research shows that mice consume more oxygen at lower temperatures and less at warmer temperatures.