How Does Temperature Affect The Respiration Rate Of Mice

The effects of environmental temperature on respiration rates of mice were observed in this experiment. I hypothesized that when environmental temperature decreased, the respiration rate of mice would increase. I predicted that if environmental temperature decreased, the respiration rate of mice would increase. The respiration rate of the endotherm was measured using the Qubit/Vernier system and the S152 CO2 gas sensor, a device that measured the CO2 concentration in the air. The independent variable for both the control and experimental treatment was temperature. In the control treatment, the independent variable was room temperature whereas, in the experimental treatment, the independent variable was temperature set 10℃ below room temperature.
The metabolic rate measurements were recorded in both the control and experimental treatment. The experiment was conducted over four trials with four different mice of similar size. Results from the experiment revealed the average metabolic rate at room temperature was 1.65 mL CO2/h/g (± SD) and the average mass specific metabolic rate at cold temperature was 2.81 mL CO2/h/g (± SD). The hypothesis was supported because experimental data revealed respiration rate to increased as environmental temperature decreased. An increased in respiration rates led to an increased in metabolic rate as environmental temperature decreased. Experimental results were supported by several published primary literatures that showed how environmental temperature affected an organism’s metabolic rate. The source of errors in the experiment included inconsistent initial and final CO2 concentration values, varying temperatures in the control and experimental treatment, and flaws in the design of the animal chamber used to hold the