Final answer:
Temperature affects the rate of loading and unloading of O₂ by promoting or inhibiting the dissociation of oxygen from hemoglobin. In highly active tissues, a higher temperature promotes faster dissociation, providing more oxygen to the tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Temperature affects the rate of loading and unloading of O₂ by influencing the dissociation of oxygen from hemoglobin. A higher temperature promotes dissociation, leading to faster loading and unloading of O₂, while a lower temperature inhibits dissociation, resulting in slower loading and unloading. This effect is primarily seen in highly active tissues that release a larger amount of energy, causing oxygen to readily dissociate from hemoglobin and supply more oxygen to the active tissues.