Why would one expect the Q10 of an ectotherm to be around 2?

The Q10 temperature coefficient measures how much the rate of a biological process increases with a 10°C rise in temperature. For ectotherms, which rely on external temperatures to regulate their body temperature and metabolic processes, a Q10 of around 2 is typical because their metabolic rates generally double with each 10°C increase. This relationship reflects the heightened kinetic energy and increased enzymatic activity at higher temperatures, leading to more rapid physiological processes. Thus, in ectotherms, the Q10 value of approximately 2 indicates a significant sensitivity of metabolism to temperature changes.