Unit 2 - KA4 - Metabolism in Conformers and Regulators Flashcards
An animal which has an internal environment that is dependent on its environment,
may have a narrow ecological niche
Conformer
the role of an organism in its community
Ecological Niche
The maintenance of a steady internal environment
Homeostasis
Region of the mammalian brain which monitors blood temperature
Hypothalamus
The control mechanism by which homeostasis is maintained by regulators
Negative Feedback
Animals that can adjust their metabolic rate to maintain a steady internal environment,
wider range of possible ecological niches
Regulators
Cells in the hypothalamus that detect temperature changes in the blood
Thermoreceptors
The use of a negative feedback system to control the body temperature of mammals.
Thermoregulation
Conditions that include temperature, salinity and pH
Abiotic Factors
The requirements of organisms in terms of energy, low in conformers, high in regulators
Metabolic Costs
Responses carried out by conformers in order to maintain their optimum metabolic rate
Behavioural Response
Response in humans to increased temperature
Vasodilation
Sweating (evaporation radiates heat)
Hair flexor muscles relaxed
Response in humans to decreased temperature
Shivering (generates heat)
Vasoconstriction (warm blood prioritised to core body)
Hair flexor muscles contracted (layer of warm air insulates skin surface)
