Final answer:
A mouse would do more cellular respiration in winter compared to an insect because of its endothermic nature, high surface area-to-volume ratio, and the presence of brown fat that facilitates heat production. In contrast, insects are ectothermic and reduce their metabolism in the cold.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cellular Respiration in Mice and Insects During Winter
A mouse would do more cellular respiration in the winter than an insect due to several reasons. Mice are endothermic, meaning they maintain a constant body temperature through metabolic heat production. Because mice have a high surface area-to-volume ratio, they lose heat more quickly when it is cold and must thus increase their metabolic rate to generate more heat and maintain their internal temperature. This involves a higher level of cellular respiration, which is the process by which cells convert nutrients into energy, to produce this necessary heat.
Insects, on the other hand, are ectothermic and do not regulate their internal temperature via metabolic heat production. They often reduce their activity and metabolism in colder temperatures, a state known as torpor. Insects may not survive extremely cold conditions well and tend to be less active during winter, leading to a reduced need for the high metabolic rates seen in mammals like mice.
Another factor comes from the specialized cells within mammals called brown fat cells. These cells contain many mitochondria and uncoupling proteins which allow for heat production without ATP. During cold periods, mammals would utilize brown fat to increase their body temperature, requiring more oxygen consumption to support the energetically costly metabolic processes.