The Effect of Temperature on the Metabolic Rates of Endotherms

Abstract

In order to better understand the effect of temperature on the metabolic rate of mice, we tested three mice at room temperature, 30 degrees Celsius, and 15 degrees Celsius, and measured their carbon dioxide output over the course of 40 seconds. We found that the respiration rates of mice increases with both warmer and cooler temperatures, suggesting that metabolic rates increase when animals’ environments change in temperature.