Metabolism in Conformers and Regulators

Question 1

Describe a ‘conformer’?

Answer 1

Conformers’ internal environment is dependent upon external environment.

Question 2

How do Conformers maintain optimum metabolic rate?

Answer 2

Conformers use behavioural responses to maintain optimum metabolic rate.

Behavioural responses by conformers allow them to tolerate variation in their external environment to maintain optimum metabolic rate.

Question 3

Do conformers have low or high metabolic costs?

Answer 3

Low metabolic costs.

Question 4

Do conformers have wide or narrow ecological niches?

Answer 4

Narrow ecological niches, as they rely on their external environment to control metabolic rate.

Question 5

How is an organisms ability to maintain its metabolic rate affected?

Answer 5

The ability of an organism to maintain its metabolic rate is affected by external abiotic factors.

Question 6

State some abiotic factors?

Answer 6

• Temperature
• Salinity
• pH

Question 7

Describe a ‘Regulator’?

Answer 7

Regulators maintain their internal environment regardless of external environment.

Regulators use metabolism to control their internal environment, increasing the range of possible ecological niches.

This regulation requires energy to achieve homeostasis. This increases their metabolic cost.

Question 8

Thermoregulation by negative feedback - the role of the hypothalamus, nerves and effectors

Answer 8

The hypothalamus is the temperature monitoring centre.

Information is communicated by electrical impulses through nerves to the effectors, which bring about corrective responses to return temperature to normal.

Question 9

The role of corrective responses to an increase in body temperature

Answer 9

Sweating - body heat used to evaporate water in the sweat, cooling the skin.
Vasodilation - increased blood flow to the skin increases heat loss.
Decreased metabolic rate - less heat produced.

Question 10

The role corrective responses to a decrease in body temperature

Answer 10

Shivering - muscle contraction generates heat.
Vasoconstriction - decreased blood flow to skin decreases heat loss.
Hair erector muscles contract - traps layer of insulating air.
Increased metabolic rate - more heat produced.

Question 11

Describe the importance of thermoregulation?

Answer 11

Importance of regulating temperature (thermoregulation) for optimal enzyme activity and high diffusion rates to maintain metabolism.