Question

For mammals, basic metabolic rate (m) scales with body mass (Mb) as follows, m = 0.676 * Mb^0.75 with units of the coefficient being liter O2/hr/kg. Calculate the mass-specific metabolic rate of a Shrew weighing 3.0 grams.

a. 0.0087 liter O2/hr

b. 2.888 liter O2/hr/kg

c. 1.541 liter O2/hr

d. 0.514 liter O2/hr/kg

e. 0.0087 kCal/hr

Answer 1

metabolic rate  (m) = 0.676 x Mb^0.75

Mb in our case = 3.0 grams = 0.003 kg

To get mass specific metabolic rate (e.g. how much it costs to run each gram of tissue), divide by mass:

Met rate/mass = 0.676 x (Mb)^0.75/ mass

= 0.676 x (0.003)^0.75 / 0.003

= 2.888 liter O2 / hr / kg