Re: Would temperature affect the respiration

To whom it may concern,

At any temperature you can be sure that a mammal will have a higher metabolic rate than a reptile. Even when a mammal is using the least amount of energy at any one time (usually called the Basal Metabolic Rate) it is still consuming six times as much energy as a poikilothermic reptile.

Temperature affects the respiration rate of reptiles and mammals differently. As temperature rises, so will the respiration rate of a reptile. As temperatures rises from freezing, the respiration rate of a mammal will actually go down because less energy is needed for heating. At some temperature, the mammal will hit it basal metabolic rate and the respiration rate (remember that the respiration provides energy) will also be at a minimum. The temperature range where the mammal's respiration rate remains at a minimum is called the thermoneutral zone. As the temperature continues to rise, the mammal will feel too hot and will expend energy to cool itself down. Thus, as the temperature drops or rises away from the thermoneutral zone, the mammal requires more energy and the respiration rate rises.

Any decent biology textbook at the university level should have something on this.

Richard Kingsley