As the environmental temperature in a closed chamber containing an endotherm such as a mouse or an ectotherm such as a lizard increases (from 15°C up to 25°C), the metabolic rate of the lizard _______, and that of the mouse _______.
A) increases; increases
B) increases; decreases
C) decreases; increases
D) decreases; decreases
E) stays the same; decreases

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As the environmental temperature increases, an ectotherm like a lizard will have an increased metabolic rate because its body temperature and metabolic processes are directly influenced by the external temperature. In contrast, an endotherm like a mouse maintains a constant body temperature through metabolic processes. As the temperature increases, the mouse's metabolic rate decreases because it needs to expend less energy to maintain its body temperature.

As the Environmental Temperature in a Closed Chamber Containing an Endotherm