Metabolism and Adverse Conditions Flashcards
What does ‘adverse condition’ mean?
Beyond the tolerable limits.
What choices do animals have when facing adverse conditions?
- adapt (dormancy)
- avoid (migration)
What does dormancy do to an organism?
Decrease in:
- metabolic rate
- heart rate
- breathing rate
- body temperature
What are the two types of dormancy?
- predictive (before)
- consequential (after)
Pros and cons of consequential dormancy?
Pros:
- organism can remain active for longer
- can take advantage of available resources
Cons:
- sudden severe change in an abiotic factor may kill many organisms before they become dormant.
What are the three forms of dormancy?
- hibernation
- aestivation
- daily torpor
What is hibernation?
Survival in winter/low temperatures. Often predictive so animals consume extra food as a fat store.
What is aestivation?
Survival in drought/high temperatures.
What is daily torpor?
A period of reduced activity during a 24 hour cycle.
What happens to an organism during hibernation?
The metabolic rate drops allowing the body temperature to drop to the surrounding temperature. Slower heart rate and breathing rate lead to minimal energy expenditure.
What happens to an animal in hibernation if the temperature drops too far?
It increases its metabolic rate to prevent a fatal drop in temperature.
What happens to an organism in daily torpor?
A slower heart and breathing rate and a decrease in body temperature.
What is migration?
The movement of members of a species over a relatively long distance.
Pros and cons of migration?
Pros:
- avoids metabolic adversity caused by low temperatures and food shortages.
Cons:
- huge energy expenditure
How do animals know to migrate?
Either innate or learned behaviour.
