Researchers measure animals' oxygen consumption (VO₂)as a way to quantify metabolic rate.A researcher measured the VO₂ for two animals,A and B,as function of ambient temperature and collected the data shown in the figure.One of the animals was an ectotherm,and one was an endotherm.Based on these data,which animal was the endotherm,and why? A)Animal A is the endotherm because at colder temperatures endotherms need to warm themselves through their own metabolic activity. B)Animal A is the endotherm because endotherms do not need to regulate their own body temperature by changing metabolic activity. C)Animal B is the endotherm because at colder temperatures endotherms need to warm themselves through their own metabolic activity. D)Animal B is the endotherm because endotherms do not need to regulate their own body temperature by changing metabolic activity.

Question

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Endotherms are animals that can regulate their own body temperature through metabolic activity. As ambient temperature decreases, endotherms need to increase their metabolic activity to maintain their body temperature. In the figure, Animal A shows a higher VO₂ at colder temperatures, indicating that it is an endotherm. Animal B shows a relatively constant VO₂ across different temperatures, indicating that it is an ectotherm that does not need to regulate its body temperature through metabolic activity.

Researchers Measure Animals' Oxygen Consumption (VO2)as a Way to Quantify

Researchers Measure Animals' Oxygen Consumption (VO₂)as a Way to Quantify