Final answer:
Temperature alters metabolic rates, with ectotherms depending on external heat and experiencing a rise or fall in metabolism with temperature changes, affecting their energy needs. Endotherms control their internal temperature through metabolic activity, ensuring stable operation but requiring more food to sustain higher energy demands.
Step-by-step explanation:
Temperature significantly affects the metabolism of both ectothermic and endothermic organisms. Ectotherms, such as reptiles and amphibians, rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. As the external temperature rises, their metabolic rate may double or triple with a 10℃ (18℉) increase, leading to increased activity but also higher food and oxygen requirements. During cooler conditions, their metabolism slows, reducing their energy and oxygen needs, which can be beneficial for survival during periods where resources are scarce.
Endotherms, like birds and mammals, generate their own heat through metabolic processes to maintain a stable internal temperature. They can adjust their metabolic rate to produce more heat in cold conditions, or dissipate heat in warmer conditions, by physiological changes such as increasing blood flow to the skin. These adaptations allow endotherms to maintain high levels of activity and metabolic efficiency regardless of external temperatures, but it comes at the cost of higher energy consumption, necessitating a greater intake of food.