2.5 metabolism in adverse conditions Flashcards
Adverse conditions definition
They are conditions which go beyond the tolerable limit of organisms normal metabolic rate.
Ways to survive adverse conditions
Adapting
Avoiding
method of adapting to adverse conditions
Dormancy
Dormancy definition
Where an organisms metabolic rate and physiological functions are slowed down for a period of time, meaning they become temporarily inactive.
How does dormancy help adapt to adverse conditions
It reduces metabolic rate and physiological functions , and prevents an organism to expending excessive quantities of energy to ensure they can survive adverse conditions.
Types of dormancy
Predictive and consequential
Predictive dormancy
Where an organism becomes dormant before adverse conditions arrive.
Consequential dormancy
Where an organism becomes dormant after adverse conditions arrive.
Reasons for consequential dormancy
Unpredictable change in conditions, a disadvantage is it can kill off organisms before they go dormant.
Hibernation definition
An example of predictive dormancy in animals, where animals consume extra food to be used as a fat store in low temperatures, resulting in a state of inactivity and bodily functions decreasing.
Features of hibernation
Metabolic rate decreases
Body temperature decreases
Heart rate and breathing rate decreases
State of inactivity
Aestivation definition
A form of consequential dormancy used by organisms to survive excessive heat and drought in summer.
Daily torpor def
Where an organisms metabolic rate drastically decreases and the organism enters a state of inactivity for a certain part of every 24 hour cycle.
When does daily torpor occur
When there is a high metabolic rate.
Methods of avoiding adverse conditions
Migration
