Effects of Environmental Temperature on Oxygen Consumption in Arctic and Temperate-Zone Mammals

Abstract
A constant pressure respiro-meter was used to measure O2 consumption under varying environmental temperature conditions. The animals studied were the arctic ground squirrel, Citellus barrowensis; the golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus; and the guinea pig, Cavia porcellus. Decrease in environmental temperature from 25[degree] to 15[degree]C. significantly increased the O2 consumption of the guinea pig and hamster. Within a temperature range of 25[degree] - 5[degree]C there was no significant difference in the O2 consumption of the arctic ground squirrel.