Thermoregulation of Mice in different environments

Abstract

Our lab group studied the effects of temperature on the Carbon Dioxide production rates in mice. We predicted that mice would exhale less Carbon Dioxide when their body temperatures were cooler because the cooler temperature would slow down their metabolic rate. We recorded both the temperature and CO2 output of mice in a controlled, room temperature environment as well as in an environment that was cooled to fifteen degrees below room temperature. In the majority of mice, we observed a lower Carbon Dioxide production rate in a cooler temperature than room temperature. One of the mice we tested, however produced a similar amount of CO2 in both environments, offsetting the trend. Our general trend and hypothesis match the trend found by Brianna Gaskill at Purdue University (2011).