METABOLISM AND ADVERSE CONDITIONS U2 Flashcards
State the response of animals to adverse conditions
Many environments vary beyond the tolerable limits for normal metabolic activity for any particular organism. Some animals have adapted to survive these conditions, whilst others avoid them.
Example: Desert biomes
Explain the term ‘dormancy’ and describe the two types of dormancy
Some organisms survive adverse conditions by dormancy.
Dormancy can be part of some organism’s life cycle. This will allow survival during a period when costs of continued normal metabolic activity would be too high.
Metabolic rate can be reduced during dormancy to save energy.
The two types pf dormancy are:
Predictive – occurs before the onset of adverse conditions. (Hibernation during winter months)
Consequential – occurs after the onset of adverse conditions (sudden drought)
Compare hibernation and aestivation
Some mammals survive during winter/low temperatures by hibernating (predictive).
Example: Hedgehogs
Aestivation allows survival in periods of high drought (consequential).
Example: Snails to protect themselves from desiccation (drying out).
Describe daily torpor
Daily torpor is a period of reduced activity in some animals with high metabolic rates.
Example: Some birds, bats and rodents lower body temperature on daily basis to conserve energy.
Explain migration as a means of avoiding adverse conditions
Migration avoids metabolic adversity by expending energy to relocate to a more suitable environment.
Example – Birds flying south for the winter.
Migratory behaviour can be innate and learned.
(Think of innate behaviour a little like instinct. Eg, ducklings following the mother duck would be an example of innate behaviour, they don’t learn to do it, they do it instinctively.)
Give examples of specialised techniques used to study long-distance migration
Examples of specialised techniques are:
Satellite tracking
Leg rings
