2.4 Metabolism in Conformers and Regulators Flashcards
State some abiotic factors that can affect an organism’s ability to maintain its metabolic rate?
Salinity, Temperature and pH
What is the definition of a ‘conformer’
Organism who cannot regulate their internal environment by physiological means
What is a ‘regulator’?
An organism that can regulate their internal environment by physiological means
Give an example of a conformer
Spider Crab
Give an advantage and a disadvantage of a conformer
:) Low metabolic cost, energy conservation
:( Narrow range of ecological niches, less adaptable
Describe the metabolic costs and ecological niches of a regulator
:) Occupy a wide range of niches
:( Energy costs and metabolic costs are high
What is ‘Homeostasis’
The maintenance of a steady internal environment
What control mechanism does homeostasis use?
Negative Feedback Control
What is the ‘set point’
The optimum level of a factor
Describe the process of negative feedback control
Receptors inside a monitoring centre monitor a factor. If it fluctuates from its set point, nerves/hormone messages are sent to effector organs, which will initiate a corrective mechanism to bring factor back to setpoint.
What is Thermoregulation?
A form of homeostasis where the body temperature is maintained at optimum
What is the optimum body temperature for a human?
37 degrees celsius
What is the temperature monitoring centre in humans?
Hypothalamus
What type of message is sent to effector organs in thermoregulation
Nerve message
What is the response of the sweat glands if there is a increase is detected in the body temperature?
Sweat glands activated, allowing for heat loss by evaportation
What type of heat loss is in sweat glands?
Evaporation
What is the response of sweat glands if a decrease is detected in body temperature?
Sweat glands close and less heat is lost by evaporation
What is the response of the hair erector muscles if a decrease is detected in body temperature?
They contract, raising the hairs on skin, trapping a layer of warm air, insulating the skin
What type of heat loss is found by heat on skin? (hair raising etc)
Radiation
Give examples of physiological mechanisms to cope with change to internal environment in regulators
- Control of blood glucose
- Control of blood water
- Control of body temperature
Vasoconstriction is a response to _______?
A decrease in body temperature
What happens in Vasodilation?
Response to increase in body temperature
- blood vessels expand
- blood vessels move closer to face
What happens in Vasoconstriction?
Response to decrease in body temperature
- blood vessels constrict
- blood vessels move away from face
Why is it important to maintain body temperature?
- Enzymes have an optimum, allowing them to work at best, high metabolic rate
- Temperature affects diffusion rates, faster at warmer temps, contribute to maintenance of high metabolic activity
What happens to metabolic rate when the internal temperature of a human decreases?
It decreases as well
