Small animals eat much more food per kilogram of body mass than do larger animals. The basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the minimal energy intake necessary to sustain life in a state of complete inactivity. The table lists the BMR in kilocalories per day, the mass, and the surface area for five animals. 

(a) Calculate the BMR per kilogram of body mass for each animal. Is it true that smaller animals must consume much more food per kilogram of body mass? 

(b) Calculate the BMR per square meter of surface area. 

(c) Can you explain why the BMR per square meter is approximately the same for animals of different sizes? Consider what happens to the food energy metabolized by an animal in a resting state.

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Animal Mouse Dog Human Horse BMR (kcal/d) 3.80 770 2050 4900 Mass (kg) 0.018 15 64 440 Surface Area (m²) 0.0032 0.74 2.0 5.1