The evolution of energy metabolism in ectotherms

代谢率是生物体吸收、转化和消耗能量和物质的速率。这一倡议的主要成果是全面了解气候对包括黑猩猩、鱼类和蟾蜍在内的外温脊椎动物代谢率的影响。我们的研究将涵盖水生和陆地环境；温带和热带栖息地；并包括标志性的本地物种和外来入侵物种。我们不仅试图了解这些环境中的物种在代谢率上的差异是如何和为什么的，而且还试图了解这种差异的后果。这些知识对于理解气候变化如何影响动物以及预测其后果将是重要的。

Metabolic rate is the rate at which organisms take up, transform, and expend energy and materials. The primary outcome of this initiative is a comprehensive understanding of the effect of climate on the metabolic rate of ectothermic vertebrates, including goannas, fish and toads. Our research will encompass aquatic and terrestrial environments; temperate and tropical habitats; and include both iconic native species and alien invasive ones. We seek to understand not only how and why species in these environments vary in their metabolic rate, but also the consequences of this variation. Such knowledge will be important in understanding how climate change does and will affect animals and in predicting its consequences.