Physiological Ecology

Question 1

• Study of the biophysical , biochemical and physiological processes
• Used by animals to cope with factors of their physical environment, or employed during ecological interactions with other organisms
• A discipline that combines the study of physiological and ecological processes in living organism

Answer 1

Physiological Ecology

Question 2

Focuses on whole-animal function and adjustments to ever-changing environments

Answer 2

Physiological Ecology

Question 3

The study of physiological ecology begins with an understanding of the influence of ________ _________.

Answer 3

Ambient temperatures

Question 4

-one of the most ecologically significant factors

-also one of the most relevant in the face of global climatic change

Answer 4

Temperature

Question 5

An important factor in the distribution of organisms because of its effects on biological processes

Answer 5

Environmental temperature

Question 6

Process by which animals maintain an internal temperature within a tolerable range

Answer 6

Thermoregulation

Question 7

Temperature affects the: (2)

Answer 7

1. physiology of organisms
2. density and state of water

Question 8

Most organisms function best within a specific range of environmental temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius. Therefore, organisms must either:

Answer 8

• maintain an internal temperature
• they must inhabit an environment that will keep the body within a temperature range that supports metabolism

Question 9

This helps supply heat

Answer 9

High metabolic rate

Question 10

conducts and distributes heat around the body

Answer 10

Efficient circulatory system

Question 11

enables animals to survive long periods of cold

Answer 11

Hibernation

Question 12

Allows animals to survive the hostile conditions of hot, dry climate

Answer 12

Estivation

Question 13

Mechanisms for regulating temperature in the body

Answer 13

-high metabolic rate
-efficient circulatory system
-hibernation
-estivation

Question 14

They maintain a high internal temperature through metabolic heat generation

Answer 14

Endotherms

Question 15

In endothermy, heat comes from metabolism in the:

Answer 15

-gut
-brain

Question 16

In cold weather, these muscular activities provide a mechanism to increase metabolic heat production

Answer 16

-shivering
-exercising

Question 17

-The regulation of their body temperature depends on external sources such as sunlight or a heated rock surface

-These organisms do not require as much food as the endotherms of the same size

Answer 17

Ectotherms

Question 18

Animals that are considered Ectotherms

Answer 18

• Fishes
• Amphibians
• Reptiles
• Invertebrates

Question 19

• animals that hibernate or estivate enter a state known as?
• a condition in which their metabolic rate is significantly lower
• this enables the animal to wait until its environment better supports its survival

Answer 19

Torpor

Question 20

These amphibians have an anti-freeze chemical in their cells, which retains the cell integrity and prevents them from freezing and bursting

Answer 20

Wood frog (Rana sylvatica)

Question 21

animals that migrate: (2)

Answer 21

• Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)
• Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

Question 22

This contributes to thermoregulation across many animal species.

ex. in birds and mammals, this includes adjusting the amount of fur in the winter (thicker coat), and shedding in the summer.

Answer 22

Acclimatization

Question 23

An example of an Endotherm and Ectotherm (shown in the ppt)

Answer 23

Endotherm - Arctic Fox
Ectotherm - Iguana

Question 24

Animals faced with temperature fluctuations may respond with adaptations such as ________, in order to survive.

Answer 24

Migration

Question 25

• This bird species is the largest migratory shorebird in the world.
• A critically endagered species in Australia.

Answer 25

Far Eastern Curlew

Question 26

________ solves problems related to temperature, locating food, and finding a mate.

Answer 26

Migration

Question 27

These changes help endotherms keep a constant body temperature throughout the year.

Answer 27

Acclimatization

Question 28

Acclimatization in ectotherms often include adjustments at the?

Answer 28

Cellular level

Question 29

________ reduces membrane fluidity at moderate temperatures by reducing phospholipid movement.

Answer 29

Cholesterol

Question 30

At low temperatures, what can Cholesterol do?

Answer 30

It hinders solidification by disrupting the regular packing of phospholipids

Question 31

2 functions of Cholesterol within the animal cell membrane:

Answer 31

1. Reduces membrane fluidity at moderate temperatures.
2. Hinders solidification at low temperatures.

Question 32

Some ectotherms that experience subzero body temperatures protect themselves by producing ________ ________ that prevent ice formation in the cells.

Answer 32

Antifreeze compounds

Question 33

In the Arctic and Antarctic oceans, these compounds in the body fluids of certain fishes enable survival where water temps can be as low as -2C.

Answer 33

Antifreeze compounds

Question 34

• This regulates solute concentration and balances the gain and loss of water.
• Is based largely on controlled movement of solutes.

Answer 34

Osmoregulation

Question 35

Another major focus in Physiological Ecology that is particularly critical for desert dwelling organisms

Answer 35

Water Availability

Question 36

An animal can maintain water balance in 2 ways. these are to be:

Answer 36

1. an Osmoconformer
2. an Osmoregulator

Question 37

All Osmoconformers are?

Answer 37

Marine animals. (invertebrates)

Question 38

Most marine vertebrates and some invertebrates are?

Answer 38

Osmoregulators

Question 39

Most animals are said to be _______, and cannot tolerate substantial changes in external osmolarity.

Answer 39

Stenohaline

Question 40

These animals can survive large fluctuations in external osmolarity.

Answer 40

Euryhaline animals

Question 41

Marine bony fishes are _______ to sea water. they lose water by osmosis and gain salt by diffusion and from the food they eat.

Answer 41

Hypoosmotic

Question 42

Hypoosmotic marine bony fishes balance water loss by?

Answer 42

drinking sea water

Question 43

Freshwater animals maintain water balance by?

Answer 43

by excreting large amounts of dilute urine

Question 44

Land animals manage their water budgets by?

Answer 44

• drinking and eating moist foods
• using metabolic water

Question 45

These animals get water savings from simple anatomical features

Answer 45

Desert animals (example: camel)