Lecture 7

Question 1

Range of Tolerance

Answer 1

range of an environmental condition in which the organism can live

Question 2

Optimum performance in range of tolerance

Answer 2

• further away from middle, the more negatively affected an organism

Question 3

Law of tolerance

Answer 3

species have optimal survival conditions within environmental thresholds

Question 4

Macroclimate

Answer 4

large-scale climate patterns
determined by climate cells & topography

Question 5

Microclimate

Answer 5

determined by small-scale topography (elevation, mountain aspect, vegetation, surface colour, etc.)

Question 6

Albedo

Answer 6

Lighter colours reflect light
darker colours absorb light
high albedo = more reflective = light colours

Question 7

Temperature in aquatic movements

Answer 7

Temp fluctuate less in water because of water’s high heat absorption

Question 8

Water temperature is stable

Answer 8

latent heat of fusion and vaporization (temp remains constant as state changes)

Question 9

Principle of Allocation

Answer 9

organisms allocate energy to different functions (growth, maintenance, reproduction, activity)
allocation has costs and benefits

Question 10

evolutionary tradeoffs

Answer 10

adapting to one environmental conditions generally reduce fitness in other environments

Question 11

4 Strategies organisms can do when at the margins of tolerance

Answer 11

1. Die
2. Migrate
3. Acclimate
4. Adaptations to extreme temp

Question 12

Death (strategy at margin of tolerance)

Answer 12

organism allocates all energy to reproduction, gives offspring better chance

Question 13

Migrate (strategy at margin of tolerance)

Answer 13

migrate to warmer regions
advantages of migration outweigh costs of migrating

Question 14

Acclimation (strategy at margin of tolerance)

Answer 14

• is NOT an adaptation but the ability to acclimate is an adaptation
• phenotypic plasticity

Question 15

Adaptations to extreme temps

Answer 15

Physiological and morphological adaptations, prolonged state of metabolic inactivity
Polar bears: thick fur, body fat, short body appendages

Question 16

Hibernation

Answer 16

prolonged state of metabolic inactivity, adaptation to cold temp

Question 17

Estivation

Answer 17

prolonged state of metabolic inactivity, adaptation to hot temp

Question 18

Heat balance equation

Answer 18

Heat stored = Heat gain/loss (metabolism, conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation)

Question 19

Plant adaptations to heat: Arctic

Answer 19

• dark coloured leaves (low albedo = high absorb)
• cushion growth form
• smaller surface are: volume ratio

Question 20

Plant adaptations to heat: Desert

Answer 20

• decrease contact with the ground
• open growth form
• reduced leaf size
• reflective light surfaces

Question 21

Arctic vs Desert Plants

Answer 21

Arctic: increased heat gain from conduction and radiation and decreased heat loss from convection
Desert is opposite

Question 22

Temperature regulation in animals

Answer 22

Poikilotherms: body temp varies with environment
Homeotherms: body temp constant regardless of environment

Question 23

How organism controls body temp

Answer 23

Ectotherms: uses external energy (cold blooded)
Endotherms: uses internal energy (warm blooded)

Question 24

Examples of ectotherms

Answer 24

plants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates

Question 25

Examples of endotherms

Answer 25

birds, mammals
- uses energy from metabolism