Endothermy and Activity in Vertebrates
- 9 November 1979
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 206 (4419), 649-654
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.493968
Abstract
Resting and maximal levels of oxygen consumption of endothermic vertebrates exceed those of ectotherms by an average of five- to tenfold. Endotherms have a much broader range of activity that can be sustained by this augmented aerobic metabolism. Ectotherms are more reliant upon, and limited by, anaerobic metabolism during activity. A principal factor in the evolution of endothermy was the increase in aerobic capacities to support sustained activity.Keywords
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