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Abstract (Methods : (Microsoft excel was used to analyze this data to…
Abstract
Methods :
Microsoft excel was used to analyze this data to generate graphs,determine correlations, and compare averages using the information from quaardvark.
Quaardvark, an animal diversity search database, was used to generate information regarding the aforementioned factors of both birds and mammals.
Background
The purpose of this experiment was to determine if body mass is a biological factor that influences BMR by investigating the correlations, if any, between body mass and BMR as well as body mass and mass-specific BMR for both birds and mammals. Any correlation between body mass and wingspan in birds was also investigated. Any significant differences in average body mass, BMR, and mass-specific BMR were also investigated between the two groups of animals.
Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is a measure of the amount of calories needed to keep an individual's body functioning at rest (Frothingham 2018). Mass-specific basal metabolic rate (mass-specific BMR), defined as the resting energy expenditure per unit body mass per day, is an important parameter in energy metabolism research (Muller et al. 2011).
Results
Statistical analysis of data revealed a positive linear correlation between average body mass and BMR in both birds and mammals, a positive linear correlation between average mass and wingspan in birds, and inverse relationship between mass-specific BMR and average body mass for each type of animal. It was also found that there are significant differences in average body mass, BMR, and mass-specific BMR between birds and mammals.
Introduction
Background
One major influence in determining BMR is the body mass of the individual. This single factor is just one of several which affects metabolic rate. Understanding what determines BMR is important since all biological processes rely on metabolic energy (Glazier 2008).
There are many environmental factors that contribute to BMR variation across both individuals and species including habitat, temperature, etc. (White et al. 2006)
Hypothesis
It is hypothesized that a positive correlation will be found between BMR/ body mass as well as between mass-specific BMR/ body mass of individuals in both birds and mammals. A positive correlation is also expected between body mass and wingspan in birds.
It is hypothesized that a significant difference in average body mass, BMR, and mass-specific BMR will be found when compared between birds and mammals.
Problem
Here, the focus is on understanding which biological factors such as mass and wingspan affect BMR or can be used to determine BMR.. Is mass influential of BMR? Can wingspan be used to indirectly estimate and determine the BMR of a bird? To further understand the influences of BMR it is important to determine any biological similarities or differences across types of animals, such as between birds and mammals.
Approach
Data regarding these biological factors assumed to affect BMR will be recorded for both birds and mammals. This data will be analyzed to determine if any correlations, similarities, and differences exist where appropriate.
Methods
Procedure
Use quaardvark database to obtain data for average BMR (W) and mass (g) for various species of both class aves and class mammalia, and wingspan (mm) for class aves. Transfer all data to microsoft excel.
Calculate mass-specific BMR for each species by dividing mass by BMR. Download the data analysis toolkit and run a regression analysis for the following: BMR and body mass of birds, mass-specific BMR and body mass of birds, BMR and body mass of mammals, mass-specific BMR and body mass of mammals, body mass and wingspan of birds. Graph each regression including regression lines and R squared values.
Run t-tests for each of the following: difference in average body mass between birds and mammals, the difference in average BMR between birds and mammals, and difference in mass-specific BMR between birds and mammals. Graph each result using a bar graph with error lines.
Materials
Quaardvark animal diversity search database was used to obtain information regarding various biological factors of both class of animal.
Microsoft excel's data analysis tool kit was used to preform statistical analysis including regressions and t-tests where appropriate.
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Design
BMR and Mass specific BMR are considered dependent variables when examined in relation to average body mass in both birds and mammals (figures 1-4). Mass was considered the dependent variable when compared with wingspan in birds (figure 5). The data used was non-gender specific. Extreme outliers should be discarded prior to running all statistical tests.
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Results
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Paragraphs
As seen in figures 1 and 3, there is a positive linear correlation between BMR and body mass in both birds and mammals, represented by R^2 values of 0.841 and 0.7069 respectively. Figures 2 and 4 represent an inverse relationship between mass- specific BMR and body mass in both birds and mammals, represented by R^2 values of 0.8749 and 0.9265 respectively. Figure 5 shows a positive linear correlation between body mass and wingspan in birds, represented by an R^2 value of 0.7016.
Table 1 shows average values for body mass, BMR, and mass-specific BMR for all species of both birds and mammals. It also states the t-stat and t-Critical two-tail data for the same categories when birds were compared with mammals to investigate potential significant differences. In each case, the absolute value of the t-stat was larger than the t-critical two-tail value, in which case the null hypothesis that there was no significant difference in each category between both animal types was rejected.
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Discussion
Middle Paragraph
Similar results have been found in previous studies on the difference in BMR between various types of animals, noting significant differences across taxonomic groups (Hayssen 1985).
Although the results of this experiment align with those of several previous studies, it is not substantial evidence enough to claim that mass, BMR, or mass-specific BMR is likely different across different taxonomic groups, as only two classes of animal were examined. This only provides insight to mammals and birds and such a study could benefit from further investigation of other classes of animals.
Furthermore, it is determined that there is significant difference in body mass, BMR, and mass-specific BMR between the two classes of animal. These results based upon t-test statistical analysis results where both mass and wingspan were observed to have t-stat values which were greater than the t-critical values.
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First Paragraph
Conclusions as to which biological factors influence BMR were reached based upon regression analysis results where R^2 values were well over 0.5. The determination that mass was significantly correlated to mass-specific BMR and wingspan was based upon regression analysis results where R^2 values were well over 0.5.
It is concluded that one factor that influences BMR in different types of animals, is body mass. Mass was found to be significantly influential on BMR in both birds and mammals. Mass was also found to significantly correlate to mass-specific BMR in both birds and mammals, and wingspan in birds.
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