Overview
1)Below is a graph of the metabolic rate (kcal/day) as a function of body mass for five groups of species. Study the plot carefully and notice the axes are log scale. Check the units of the axes and then answer the following questions.
a) What is the metabolic rate (in watts) of a non-passerine bird of 200 g?
b) What group has the highest metabolic rate at a giving body mass?
c) What is the metabolic rate (in watts) of a 0.5 kg lizard at 37°C ?
d) How much greater is the metabolic rate (in watts) of a 10 g passerine bird than of a 10g lizard at 37°C. Please answer as a ratio.i.e. A statement such as the mebolic rate of the bird is X times greater/less than the lizard?
e) What is the answer if the comparison is between a 1 kg passerine bird and a 1 kg lizard at 37°C ? How does this compare with your answer in c.What do you make of the difference?
f) If oxidizing one mole of glucose yields 673 kilocalories, how long could a 10 g and 1 kg passerine bird survive, assuming each has energy stores equal to 10% of their body mass in glucose.What would be survival time for lizards at 10 g and 1 kg with the same energy supply? (Given their metabolic rates how many days can they live on their energy stores? You expect an organism with a lower metaolic rate to live longer with the same energy availale)
Remember metabolic rates of endotherms tend to be about 10X greater than a ecotherm of the same body mass. You can use that generalization to check you answers. You can use google to convert units typing in the conversion such as 2 gallons to litersor1 kilocalorie/day to watts . Of course check to make sure you believe the answers