unit 2 KA4 - metabolism in conformers and regulators

Question 1

what affects the ability of an organism to maintain its metabolic rate? give examples

Answer 1

external abiotic factors - temperature, salinity and pH

Question 2

what are conformers

Answer 2

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

Question 3

why do conformers use behavioural responses

Answer 3

they allow them to tolerate variation in their external environment to maintain optimum metabolic rate. examples include settling on a warm rock :)

Question 4

what are the advantages of being a conformer

Answer 4

low metabolic costs

Question 5

what are the disadvantages of being a conformer

Answer 5

narrow range of ecological niches

Question 6

what are regulators

Answer 6

regulators maintain their internal environment regardless of external environment. they use metabolism to control their internal environment - physiological responses.

Question 7

what are the advantages of being a regulator

Answer 7

wide range of possible ecological niches

Question 8

what are the disadvantages of being a regulator

Answer 8

they have high metabolic costs as their metabolic regulation that they perform to maintain internal environment requires energy

Question 9

what is the hypothalamus

Answer 9

the temperature monitoring system

Question 10

describe thermoregulation by negative feedback

Answer 10

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

Question 11

what is homeostasis

Answer 11

the maintenance of a constant internal environment

Question 12

what are the corrective responses to an increase in body temperature

Answer 12

sweating, vasodilation of blood vessels and decreased metabolic rate

Question 13

what are the corrective responses to a decrease in body temperature

Answer 13

shivering, vasoconstriction of blood vessels, hair erector muscles contracting and increased metabolic rate

Question 14

how does sweating bring temperature down to normal

Answer 14

the body heat is used to evaporate water in the sweat, cooling the skin

Question 15

how does vasodilation of blood vessels bring temperature back down to normal

Answer 15

increased blood flow to the skin increases heat loss

Question 16

how does decreased metabolic rate bring temperature back down to normal

Answer 16

less heat produced

Question 17

how does shivering bring temperature back up to normal

Answer 17

muscle contraction increases the rate of respiration, generating ATP in the form of heat

Question 18

how does vasoconstriction of blood vessels bring temperature back up to normal

Answer 18

decreased blood flow to skin decreases heat loss

Question 19

how do hair erector muscles bring temperature back up to normal

Answer 19

they trap a layer of insulating air

Question 20

how does increased metabolic rate bring temperature back up to normal

Answer 20

more heat is produced

Question 21

why is thermoregulation important

Answer 21

it is important for optimal enzyme activity and high diffusion rates to maintain metabolism

Question 22

which cells detect changes in temperature

Answer 22

thermoreceptors