Animal Adaptions Flashcards
Scaling
predictable changes in some characted with body size
body size constraints and trade offs
For objects of similar shape, the ratio of surface area to volume decreases with size. smaller bodies have a larger surface area relative to their volume. The decreasing surface area relative to volume with increasing body size limits the transfer of materials and energy between the organisms interior and exterior. Change shape or use active transport of oxygen to solve this problem
herbivore
feeds on plants(Grazers-eat grass Browsers-eat leaves, branches Granivores- eat grains,seeds Frugivores- eat fruits Sucking Insects- taps into phloem Nectivores- eat nectar)
carnivore
feeds on meat
omnivore
feeds on meat and plants
detritivore
feeds on dead matter
homeostasis
maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment, despite varying external conditions
homeostatic plateau
limited range of maximum and minimum physiological tolerances in which an organism can operate
feedback
positive feedback- output from a previous event increases that event in future(destabilizing); negative feedback- output from a previous event influences(dampen) that same event in the future
endothermy
internal heat production (humans)
ectothermy
obtain heat from sources outside the body(snake, fish)
homeothermy
organisms that use endothermy
heterothermy
organisms that use both endo and ectothermy
counter current heat exchange
physical arrangement of arteries and veins to allow transfer of heat
rete
a large network or discrete vascular bundle of intermingling small blood vessels carying arterial and venous blood that acts as a heat exchanger in mammals and certain fish and sharks
hyperosmotic
having a higher concentration of salts in the body tissue than does the surrounding water
hypooosmotic
having a lower concentration of salts in the body tissue than does the surrounding water
torpor
temporary great reduction in an animal’s respiration with loss of motion and feeling; reduces energy expenditure in response to some unfavorable environmental condition such as hot or cold
hibernation
winter dormancy in animals characterized by a great decrease in metabolism
biological clock
the internal mechanism of an organism that controls circadian rhythms without external time cues
Bergman’s rule
within a species, body mass increases with latitude
Allen’s rule
endotherms from colder climates usually have shorter limbs (or appendages) than the equivalent animals from warmer climates.
energetic equivalence rule
amount of energy used overall by a population does not depend on the size of the organisms in that population(populations of different species use the same amount of energy regardless of their size)
poikilotherms
organisms that use ectothermy to regulate temperature. gain and loose heat easily. have low metabolic rate and high conductivity. active only at temperate temperatures. sluggish in cold. exploit microclimates by moving into warm places to heat up and seeks shade to cool off(amphibians move in and out of water or desert animals bury themselves for shade)
tradeoffs between ectothermy and endothermy
Advantage of Endothermy: can live in variety of environments
Disadvantage: needs lots of calories, some energy consumed goes to heat production; Advantage of Ectothermy: calories consumed can go to biomass production or reproduction
Disadvantage: reliant on external environment
red queen hypothesis
coevolution between predator and prey such that the relationship persists(running in place)
fermentation
anaerobic bacteria further breakdown food in the absence of oxygen
coprophagy
ingestion of fecal material for further extraction of nutrients
Behavioral adaptations of obtaining nutritional needs
varies time of foraging( eating earlier in the growth season) and preferences (some plants are more palatable
urticating hairs
hair like extensions loaded with poison
Adaptations of Poikilotherms
acclimation-adjusting to the environment
Adaptations of homeotherms
Morpholigical- Insulation(hair, fur), Coloration
Physiological-Non-Shivering thermogenesis
Behavioral-heat production in muscles without shivering
