Question

Suppose the animals at a zoo were resting comfortably and remained at rest while the nighttime air temperature dropped. If the temperature change were sufficient to cause a change in metabolic rate, what changes would you expect for an alligator and a lion?

Short answer

When the temperature of airdrops in an area where the zoo is located, the temperature of the alligator drops. In the case of a lion, the temperature remains constant. The reason for the difference is alligator is an ectotherm, and the lion is an endotherm.

Step-by-step solution

Ectotherm and endotherm

Organisms are classified as endotherms and ectotherms by considering the homeostasis of temperature in their body. Endotherms are capable of regulating their temperature by maintaining a steady state irrespective of the surrounding environment. Ectotherm is not able to control their body temperature.

Alligator

Alligators are ectotherms. They depend on their surrounding environment or external heat sources to manage their body temperature. For example, alligators prevent the dropping of their body temperature in the cold by basking in the sun.

Therefore, when the air temperature drops in a zoo, the alligator's metabolic rate remains unchanged, but the temperature decreases.

Lion

A lion is an endothermic organism. To maintain its temperature, the lion modifies its metabolic rate to adjust the temperature. For example, when temperature decreases in the surrounding environment, the lion increases its metabolic rate to keep warm.

Therefore, the lions' metabolic rate increases when the temperature drops in a zoo, but the temperature remains unchanged.