B3- Metabolic Rate

• Metabolic rate is the amount of energy expended by an organism in a given period of time
• Metabolic rate can be measured using:

  • Respirometers,
  • Oxygen probes,
  • Carbon dioxide probes,
  • Calorimeters
• Birds and mammals have higher metabolic rates than reptiles and amphibians which have a higher metabolic rate than fish.
• Birds and mammals have a complete circulatory system, with two ventricles and two atria therefore no mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
• Amphibians and reptiles have an incomplete double, because there are only one ventricle and two atria
• Fish have a singer circulatory system as they only have one atrium and one ventricle.