Explorations Chapter 14

Question 1

Acclimatory adjustments

Answer 1

Processes by which an individual organism adjusts in order to maintain homeostasis in response to environmental
challenges.

Question 2

Activated Melanogenesis

Answer 2

Increase in melanin production in response to ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure

Question 3

Adaptation

Answer 3

Alteration in population-level gene frequencies related to environmentally induced selective pressures; leads to a greater level of fitness
for a population related to a specific environment.

Question 4

Adjustment

Answer 4

Nongenetic-based ways in which organisms adjust to environmental stressors

Question 5

Allen’s Rule

Answer 5

Due to thermal adaptation, homeothermic animals have body volume-to-surface ratios that vary inversely with the average temperature of their environment. in cold climates, the anticipated ratio is high; in warm climates, it is low

Question 6

Basal melanogenesis

Answer 6

Genetically-mediated, non-environmentally influenced base melanin level.

Question 7

Behavioral adjustments

Answer 7

An individual’s culturally mediated responses to an environmental stressor in an effort to maintain homeostasis

Question 8

Bergmann’s Rule

Answer 8

For a broadly distributed monophyletic group, species and populations of smaller size tend to be found in environments with warmer climates and those of larger size tend to be found in ones that are colder

Question 9

Cline

Answer 9

A continuum of graduations (i.e., degrees of levels) of a specific trait

Question 10

Conduction

Answer 10

Mechanism of heat transfer between objects through direct contact

Question 11

Convection

Answer 11

Movement of heat away from a warm object to the cooler surrounding fluid (i.e., gas or liquid).

Question 12

Convergent evolution

Answer 12

Evolutionary process whereby organisms that are not closely related independently evolve similar traits as a product of adaptation to similar evolutionary parameters

Question 13

Erythrocyte

Answer 13

Red blood cell; most common form of blood cell; the principle means of transporting oxygen throughout the circulatory system

Question 14

Evaporation

Answer 14

Mechanism of heat transfer whereby liquid is transformed into gas, utilizing energy (e.g., heat)

Question 15

Folic acid

Answer 15

Form of B complex vitamin necessary for proper fetal development

Question 16

Glogler’s Rule

Answer 16

For mammals of the same species, those with more darkly pigmented forms tend to be found closer to the equator and those with lighter forms are found in regions further from the equator.

Question 17

Homeostasis

Answer 17

Condition of optimal functioning for an organism

Question 18

Hyperpnea

Answer 18

Increased depth and rate of respiration

Question 19

Hypothalamus

Answer 19

Small portion of the human brain responsible for body temperature regulation

Question 20

Lactase persistance

Answer 20

Genetic mutation permitting the continued production of lactase-phlorizin hydrolase enzyme in the small intestine past the weaning period.

Question 21

Melanin

Answer 21

Black-brown pigment produced by melanocytes; one of the primary pigments in skin.

Question 22

Melanocytes

Answer 22

Specialized cells that produce melanin

Question 23

Phenotypic plasticity

Answer 23

Ability of one genotype to produce more than one phenotype dependent on environmental conditions.

Question 24

Radiation

Answer 24

Mechanism of heat transfer involving electromagnetic energy being emitted by the object

Question 25

Sickle cell disease

Answer 25

A group of genetically inherited blood disorders characterized by an abnormality in the shape of the hemoglobin within erythrocytes (red blood cells).

Question 26

Stressor

Answer 26

Any stimulus resulting in an imbalance in an organism’s homeostatic balance

Question 27

Vasoconstriction

Answer 27

Narrowing the blood vessels due to contractions of the muscular vessel walls

Question 28

Vasodilation

Answer 28

Dilation of the blood vessels due to relaxation of the muscular vessel walls