Ectotherm, endotherm, gigantotherm, etc. are terms which we apply to the Animalia, but what about the metabolisms of all other creatures. Of course, animals are a special case, as they are large and motile, so they require more energy for movement, but all creatures need heat, so their cells can do what they must. How do the experts and associated scientists define the metabolic rates and types of plants, which are autotrophs, or the members of the clade Fungi, which are fellow heterotrophs to the animals, their opisthokont kin? I never really thought in depth about metabolisms outside of animals. Ectotherms are externally insulated, mesotherms are a little internal and external, endotherms are internal, and there are so many ins and outs to this. What about plants, fungi, protists, and even prokaryotes?
I am an ecologist, not a physiologist, but my limited understanding of physiology built from my studies regarding the biological impacts climate change in the ocean lead me to this answer: Generally, metabolism means the amount of X (oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, etc) an individual needs to "breathe" in order to promote effective food capture, growth, and reproduction. Metabolic rate means the rate at which the combination of X and food are converted into growth (proteins, etc.). Both are impacted by the temperature of the environment and body size (or cell size for single-celled organisms). The rate at which enodotherms, mesotherms, and endotherms will be impacted by external temperatures will be different, but I would think that this general definition should apply to all organisms.
I see what you mean... since the plants use the sun's energy differently from other organisms, I would think the term to use is "photosynthesizers".
Here is an interesting article about the impacts of temperature on fungal growth: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.04110.x/full
But, you may have to resort to using the term heterotroph.... since it explains their use of light energy...
Mason: Metabolomics, which is the fundamental science of small molecule metabolic profiling of organisms, was innovated to promote Green Revolution diagnostics of plants, from grapes to rice. This actually has a longer and more sophisticated history than animal metabolomics. This is only the tip of an iceberg of metabolic research on plants termed Metabolic Ecology, which includes the metabolisms of plants and animals into a unifying theory. There is much grist for you to pursue if you are game.
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