Metabolism in small animals
Metabolism, the biochemical mechanism through which the food consumed is converted to energy, is a very essential process that occurs in all living organisms. Energy is required in the body of all organisms even at rest to perform vital functions that keep an organism alive. Breathing, blood circulation, regulation of hormones and growth are some of the vital functions that require energy (Bender, 2002). Basal metabolic energy is the amount of energy spent by the body while resting. Metabolism varies from one organism to another as well as from one person to another.
Bender, (2002) have clearly stated that organisms which have a high metabolic rate burn calories faster than those with low metabolic rate. Birds and mammals have higher metabolic rates as compared to fish and reptiles. Differences in metabolic rates also occur between organisms of the same classification. For example, a man and a rodent have different metabolic rates though they are both classified as mammals. Differences also, occur between organisms of the same species. A small person have different metabolic rate from a big person. There are various factors that affect the metabolic rates of different animals. Body temperature as well as the surrounding temperature, work, and body size are some of the factors that affect the metabolic rate of an animal.
Birds, which belong to the homoeothermic group of animals, have higher body temperatures than those animals belonging to the poiklothermic group. The fundamental source of energy for birds as well as other organisms is the sun. Energy from the sun is utilized through the process of photosynthesis by green plants. Birds acquire energy by eating green leaves or products from plants. After obtaining this energy, they use it to build tissues, make eggs, process brain information, and power all their activities including flight. Birds which are small animals tend to loss heat more than other big animals. This is because they have a very large surface area as compared to volume ratio. The surface of a bird is also proportionately large as compared to the mass of the metabolizing tissues. Birds have a large amount of the active protoplasmic tissue as comported to big animals. Due to excessive loss of heat, the metabolic rate of birds is high in order to maintain their body temperate and keep them alive. Larger animals do not lose a lot of heat as compared to birds. The surface of large animals is proportionately large as compared to their volume ration (Ehrlich, Dobkin, and Wheye, 1988).
Ehrlich, Dobkin, and Wheye (1988), states that, birds also tend to be more active than other animals. This means that they require a lot of energy to power their activities. Humming bird for example, display high levels of activity as compared to all other living creatures. As a result they have the highest metabolic rate of all animals. In order to maintain the high metabolic rates, birds consume almost the same weight of food in comparison to their bodies. Warm blooded animals could not be created in a size less than a humming bird or a shrew. It would be very difficult for such a creature to eat at a speed that would enable it maintain its body temperature.
While active, the metabolic rate of birds is higher than their basal metabolic rate. Hummingbirds become torpid at night and allow their body temperature to drop until it equals or is close to the surrounding air. This is a mechanism that allows them to conserve energy especially at night when they do not have access to food. When the metabolic rate of humming birds is at its peak, they are just a few hours from death due to starvation (Ehrlich, Dobkin, and Wheye, 1988).
Bender, (2002) have clearly stated that organisms which have a high metabolic rate burn calories faster than those with low metabolic rate. Birds and mammals have higher metabolic rates as compared to fish and reptiles. Differences in metabolic rates also occur between organisms of the same classification. For example, a man and a rodent have different metabolic rates though they are both classified as mammals. Differences also, occur between organisms of the same species. A small person have different metabolic rate from a big person. There are various factors that affect the metabolic rates of different animals. Body temperature as well as the surrounding temperature, work, and body size are some of the factors that affect the metabolic rate of an animal.
Birds, which belong to the homoeothermic group of animals, have higher body temperatures than those animals belonging to the poiklothermic group. The fundamental source of energy for birds as well as other organisms is the sun. Energy from the sun is utilized through the process of photosynthesis by green plants. Birds acquire energy by eating green leaves or products from plants. After obtaining this energy, they use it to build tissues, make eggs, process brain information, and power all their activities including flight. Birds which are small animals tend to loss heat more than other big animals. This is because they have a very large surface area as compared to volume ratio. The surface of a bird is also proportionately large as compared to the mass of the metabolizing tissues. Birds have a large amount of the active protoplasmic tissue as comported to big animals. Due to excessive loss of heat, the metabolic rate of birds is high in order to maintain their body temperate and keep them alive. Larger animals do not lose a lot of heat as compared to birds. The surface of large animals is proportionately large as compared to their volume ration (Ehrlich, Dobkin, and Wheye, 1988).
Ehrlich, Dobkin, and Wheye (1988), states that, birds also tend to be more active than other animals. This means that they require a lot of energy to power their activities. Humming bird for example, display high levels of activity as compared to all other living creatures. As a result they have the highest metabolic rate of all animals. In order to maintain the high metabolic rates, birds consume almost the same weight of food in comparison to their bodies. Warm blooded animals could not be created in a size less than a humming bird or a shrew. It would be very difficult for such a creature to eat at a speed that would enable it maintain its body temperature.
While active, the metabolic rate of birds is higher than their basal metabolic rate. Hummingbirds become torpid at night and allow their body temperature to drop until it equals or is close to the surrounding air. This is a mechanism that allows them to conserve energy especially at night when they do not have access to food. When the metabolic rate of humming birds is at its peak, they are just a few hours from death due to starvation (Ehrlich, Dobkin, and Wheye, 1988).
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