Physiology
Metabolic Rate
The rate at which an organism consumes energy, typically measured as oxygen consumption or heat production per unit time. Determines the pace of biological processes.
Biological Context
Metabolic rate scales with body mass to the 3/4 power (Kleiber's Law)—larger animals have slower mass-specific metabolic rates. This affects lifespan, heart rate, growth rate, and many other traits. Environmental temperature also affects metabolic rate in cold-blooded organisms.