METABOLISM IN CONFORMERS & REGULATORS

Question 1

factors that can affect an organism’s ability to maintain its metabolic rate

Answer 1

The ability of an organism to maintain its metabolic rate is affected by external abiotic factors:
-temperature
-salinity
-pH

Question 2

conformers

Answer 2

• conformers’ internal environment is dependent upon external environment
• use behavioural responses to maintain optimum metabolic rate

Question 3

conformer example

Answer 3

• lizards are unable to maintain body temperature by employing physiological mechanisms like shivering
• manage it by behavioural means, such as basking in sunshine

Question 4

how conformers maintain an optimum metabolic rate

Answer 4

Conformers have low metabolic costs and a narrow range of ecological niches

Question 5

behavioural responses

Answer 5

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

Question 6

regulators

Answer 6

• regulators maintain their internal environment regardless of their external environment
• use metabolism to control their internal environment
• increases range of possible niches

Question 7

regulation

Answer 7

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

Question 8

homeostasis

Answer 8

the maintenance of steady conditions within an organism

Question 9

thermoregulation

Answer 9

the control of body temperature by negative feedback

Question 10

negative feedback

Answer 10

control mechanism by which homeostasis is achieved

Question 11

hypothalmus

Answer 11

• is the temperature monitoring centre
• contains thermoreceptors = detect changes in blood/temp, sends out electrical impulses through nerves to the effectors, brings about corrective responses to return temp to normal

Question 12

role of corrective responses to an increase in body temperature: sweating

Answer 12

sweat glands in skin secrete sweat, which cools the body down when it evaporates from the skin’s surface

Question 13

role of corrective responses to an increase in body temperature: vasodilation

Answer 13

blood vessels that supply blood to the skin dilate, inc. amount of blood flow to the skin, which inc. surface area from which heat is lost to environment by radiation.

Question 14

role of corrective responses to an increase in body temperature: decreased metabolic rate

Answer 14

less heat is produced

Question 15

The corrective responses to a decrease in body temperature: shivering

Answer 15

involuntary muscle contraction generates heat

Question 16

The corrective responses to a decrease in body temperature:

Question 17

The corrective responses to a decrease in body temperature: vasoconstriction

Answer 17

arterioles that supply blood to the skin become constricted, red. amount of blood flow to the skin, resulting in less heat lost by radiation from the surface of the body

Question 18

The corrective responses to a decrease in body temperature: hair erector muscles contract

Answer 18

nerve impulses from hypothalmus contract erector pili muscles which causes the hairs to stand up, trapping a layer of insulating air

Question 19

The corrective responses to a decrease in body temperature: increased metabolic rate

Answer 19

increased metabolic rate generates heat

Question 20

Explain the importance of regulating temperature (thermoregulation)

Answer 20

for optimal enzyme-controlled activity and high diffusion rates to maintain metabolism