Included with:
Lab Equipment Required: Description: In this experiment, students will measure the expired CO2 and consumed O2values, RER, and proportion of fat and carbohydrates utilized while an endotherm (mouse or rat) is in the small animal chamber. They will repeat the experiment with an ectothermic organism (frog, snake or lizard) and make a comparison between the RER values of these two types of animals. Students will then be able to make an accurate assessment of the metabolic capability of these organisms.
Goals
1. Students will distinguish between an ectothermic and endothermic animal. 2. Students will assemble the equipment to be able to record accurate gas analysis measurements. 3. Students will be able to place an animal in the small animal chamber. 4. Students will be able to maintain animal health and well being during recording. 5. Students will accurately analyze data to compare RER values between ectotherms and endotherms. 6. An an option, students may record using animals cooled to lower than body temperature and RER will calculated as they return to normal body temperature or to room temperature.
Outcomes
Students who have successfully completed this exercise will: 1. determine mean RER of an endotherm at rest. 2. determine the changes in CO2 and O2 volumes of an ectotherm. 3. make comparisons with the values obtained from an endotherm compared to an ectotherm. 4. design optional experiments to compare other values from different animals.
