Answer to Question #99437 in Zoology for Helen Najera

Question

Why does an endotherm’s metabolic rate increase above the upper lethal temperature? And why does the metabolic rate fall below the lower lethal temperature?

Answer 1

Above the upper lethal temperature, an endotherm’s metabolic rate increases to expend energy that will be used to lose heat. As a result, increased metabolic rate causes sweating that stimulates the loss of heat by the animal at high temperatures. Below the lower lethal temperature, the metabolic rate also increases to compensate for the excessive heat loss and to maintain body temperature by producing additional heat.