Adaptive Physiology

Question 1

2 ways to decrease density

Answer 1

1) increase lightweight materials (lung space, fat/blubber)
2) decrease heavy materials in body (bone density)

Question 2

problems with being less dense

Answer 2

decreasing density makes diving more difficult

Question 3

bottlenose dolphin solution to being less dense

Answer 3

oil in their bones

Question 4

lungs role in diving

Answer 4

easily adjustable buoyancy controllers (MMs have large lung volume)

Question 5

where can oxygen be stored other than lungs

Answer 5

• blood = increased blood volume and red blood cells
• muscles = increased capacity to store oxygen

Question 6

what adaptation allows toothed cetaceans, wedded seals, and N. elephant seals to avoid the pressure when diving

Answer 6

hinged ribcage

Question 7

warm blooded characteristics

Answer 7

1) generate heat internally when cold
2) cool down by sweating or panting
3) convert food to energy (heat)
4) eat more to produce energy

Question 8

cold blooded traits

Answer 8

1) take on temp of enviro
2) body is hot in hot weather and vice versa
3) eat less for body mass
4) grow faster

Question 9

ways to minimize heat loss

Answer 9

1) surface area to volume ratio (less surface area = less area to lose heat to enviro)
2) insulation (diff for diff species)
3) breathing (MMs breath less than humans)

Question 10

types of insulation

Answer 10

1) hair
2) blubber

Question 11

hair

Answer 11

• MMs that live on land and water rely on hair
• very dense (primary and under hairs)
• sebaceous glands (oil)
• naked/thinly covered areas which act as windows to dump heat

Question 12

blubber

Answer 12

• most MMs
• thickness varies (individually and by species)
• total lipid (fat) content
• lots of vessels In blubber = control exposure to cooler water & act as heat sink during break exposure to warm water
• areas w/ little to no blubber to dump heat (thermal windows)

Question 13

3 main purposes of skin

Answer 13

1) thermoregulation
2) drag reduction
3) buoyancy

Question 14

counter current heat exchange

Answer 14

cold blood in veins is warmed by parallel pipes connected to arteries that contain warm blood

Question 15

pharynx

Answer 15

• esophagus (food)
• larynx (air)

Question 16

goose-beak

Answer 16

• echolocate, breathe, and swallow/eat at the same time

Question 17

feeding

Answer 17

food supply not always consistent = better to be larger (more area to store food/fat/energy)

Question 18

3 different feeding strategies

Answer 18

1) total herbivory
2) hunt single animals
3) engulf entire schools of fish/inverts

Question 19

excretory system

Answer 19

MMs ingest more salt than terrestrial mammals = adapted kidney structure
- terrestrial mammals = 2 lobes
- MMs = multiple lobes

produce highly concentrated urine
- small bladders = frequent urination

only drink salt water in conditions of fasting

Question 20

sexual maturity

Answer 20

females:
- size not age
- 85-95% of their mean adult body length (~5-12 yrs)

males:
- age
- 10-15 yrs

Question 21

gestation

Answer 21

12 months (+/- 2 weeks)

Question 22

inter-birth interval

Answer 22

~ 4-5 years

• due to high maternal investment
• conceive again w/in 9 months if calf dies (typically the 1st calf dies)

Question 23

labor info

Answer 23

• ~20 min - 2.5 hours
• born tail first
• infanticide of ill/compromised calfs

Question 24

calves

Answer 24

• 30-40 lbs & 3-4 ft
• dorsal fin flat
• fetal folds
• mom whistles constantly to acoustic imprint
• twins rare and usually unsuccessful

Question 25

precocial

Answer 25

relatively developed motor skills (uncoordinated for only the fist ~48 hours)

Question 26

when is the bond between mother and calf severed?

Answer 26

after the arrival of a new calf

Question 27

why do female calves receive more care?

Answer 27

they are able to carry on the family line (have babies)

Question 28

why do female calves receive more care?

Answer 28

they are able to carry on the family line (have babies)