respiration

Microorganisms drive nearly every step of these processes, using substances like sulfur and iron for respiration in much the same way humans rely on oxygen to metabolize food.

The study, titled "Leucine inhibits degradation of outer mitochondrial membrane proteins to adapt mitochondrial respiration," was published in Nature Cell Biology.

Birds are particularly susceptible because they have a high respiration rate, and it causes them stress to keep them kenneled indoors.

The researchers hope that the findings of this work pave the way to more innovation in the methods used to monitor vital signs in captive animals, including heart rate and respiration rate.

This natural process, known as microbial respiration, is what produces the carbon dioxide and methane emissions forecasted by climate modelers.