Mouse Metabolics: The effect of temperature on metabolic rate

Abstract

In order to answer the question “Why are mice more active at higher and lower temperatures?”, our lab group collected data about a mouse’s metabolic rate, measuring CO2 production over a set period of time. Our hypothesis is “If an endotherm is outside its thermoneutral zone, its metabolic rate will increase due to internal thermoregulating processes.” We ran two trials with mice of different masses and compared their respective masses to their CO2 production. We found that a mouse respires the most at colder temperatures (~13 degrees Celsius) and respires the least at (~32 degrees Celsius). In light of this information, only a part of our hypothesis was supported. Mice respire more at lower temperatures because they have an increased metabolic rate, warming themselves to keep homeostasis. At higher temperatures mice respire less because they purposely have a lower metabolic rate, decreasing the amount of heat energy from the reactions in cellular respiration.