unit 2 KA4 - metabolism in conformers and regulators Flashcards
what affects the ability of an organism to maintain its metabolic rate? give examples
external abiotic factors - temperature, salinity and pH
what are conformers
the conformers’ internal environment is dependent upon its external environment. conformers use behavioural responses to maintain optimum metabolic rate.
why do conformers use behavioural responses
they allow them to tolerate variation in their external environment to maintain optimum metabolic rate. examples include settling on a warm rock :)
what are the advantages of being a conformer
low metabolic costs
what are the disadvantages of being a conformer
narrow range of ecological niches
what are regulators
regulators maintain their internal environment regardless of external environment. they use metabolism to control their internal environment - physiological responses.
what are the advantages of being a regulator
wide range of possible ecological niches
what are the disadvantages of being a regulator
they have high metabolic costs as their metabolic regulation that they perform to maintain internal environment requires energy
what is the hypothalamus
the temperature monitoring system
describe thermoregulation by negative feedback
information is communicated by electrical impulses through nerves to the effectors, which bring about corrective responses to return temperature to normal
what is homeostasis
the maintenance of a constant internal environment
what are the corrective responses to an increase in body temperature
sweating, vasodilation of blood vessels and decreased metabolic rate
what are the corrective responses to a decrease in body temperature
shivering, vasoconstriction of blood vessels, hair erector muscles contracting and increased metabolic rate
how does sweating bring temperature down to normal
the body heat is used to evaporate water in the sweat, cooling the skin
how does vasodilation of blood vessels bring temperature back down to normal
increased blood flow to the skin increases heat loss
how does decreased metabolic rate bring temperature back down to normal
less heat produced
how does shivering bring temperature back up to normal
muscle contraction increases the rate of respiration, generating ATP in the form of heat
how does vasoconstriction of blood vessels bring temperature back up to normal
decreased blood flow to skin decreases heat loss
how do hair erector muscles bring temperature back up to normal
they trap a layer of insulating air
how does increased metabolic rate bring temperature back up to normal
more heat is produced
why is thermoregulation important
it is important for optimal enzyme activity and high diffusion rates to maintain metabolism
which cells detect changes in temperature
thermoreceptors
