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The human body is a powerhouse of energy, with every cell performing numerous functions that require energy. This energy production and consumption is measured by the metabolic rate, which quantifies the total heat generated by all the body's chemical reactions and mechanical work. This measurement helps to determine the rate of kilocalorie (kcal) consumption needed to fuel all ongoing activities.
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Determining Basal Energy Expenditure and the Capacity of Thermogenic Adipocytes to Expend Energy in Obese Mice
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Squamate metabolic rates decrease in winter beyond the effect of temperature.

Shahar Dubiner1, Simon Jamison1, Shai Meiri1,2

  • 1School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

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|August 26, 2023
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Reptile brumation (hibernation) shows significant metabolic suppression beyond temperature effects, influenced by season, geography, and time of day, challenging previous physiological assumptions.

Keywords:
Q10allometrybrumationcircadian rhythmhibernationmetabolic depressionmetabolic ratereptiles

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Area of Science:

  • Zoology
  • Physiology
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Reptilian brumation is less understood than mammalian hibernation.
  • Evidence for metabolic regulation beyond temperature in brumating reptiles is scarce.
  • Squamate physiology is often perceived as solely temperature-dependent.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate seasonal and environmental influences on squamate standard metabolic rates (SMR).
  • To determine if reptiles actively regulate metabolism during brumation.
  • To compare metabolic rates across different biomes, seasons, and times of day.

Main Methods:

  • Measured SMR (oxygen uptake) in 156 individuals from 59 Israeli squamate species.
  • Utilized continuous gas exchange measurements in a metabolic chamber.
  • Employed phylogenetic mixed models to analyze factors influencing SMR.

Main Results:

  • SMR decreased significantly between summer and winter (47% at 20°C, 70% at 12°C).
  • Metabolic rates showed seasonal, diel, and geographic variations, independent of temperature alone.
  • Body size scaling exponent for SMR differed between summer (0.84) and brumation (0.71).

Conclusions:

  • Squamate metabolism is actively regulated by seasonal, diel, and geographic factors, not just temperature.
  • Brumation involves intrinsic metabolic suppression beyond passive temperature effects.
  • Findings challenge the view of reptiles as purely ectothermic regulators.