Unit 2.4 Metabolisms In Conformers And Regulators

Question 1

What are the external abiotic factors affecting metabolic rate?

Answer 1

Temperature, Salinity, pH

These factors influence how organisms maintain their metabolic processes.

Question 2

How does temperature affect metabolic rate?

Answer 2

Increases in temperature lead to an increase in the metabolic rate of conformers due to sped-up biochemical reactions.

This effect is particularly notable in ectothermic organisms.

Question 3

What is the effect of changes in salinity on metabolic rate?

Answer 3

Higher energy expenditure is required to maintain the balance of salt and water.

This is crucial for osmoregulation in organisms.

Question 4

How does pH influence metabolism?

Answer 4

pH can affect enzyme activity and overall cellular processes.

Most enzymes have an optimal pH range for efficient functioning.

Question 5

What is a conformer?

Answer 5

Conformers’ internal environment is dependent upon external environment.

Question 6

How do conformers adjust their body temperature?

Answer 6

Conformers adjust their body temperature to match their surroundings.

Question 7

What do animals like lizards and snakes rely on for warmth?

Answer 7

Animals like lizards and snakes rely upon external heat sources such as basking in the sun to warm up.

Question 8

How do conformers maintain their optimum metabolic rate?

Answer 8

Conformers use behavioural responses to maintain optimum metabolic rate.

Question 9

What allows conformers to tolerate variation in their external environment?

Answer 9

Behavioural responses by conformers allow them to tolerate variation in their external environment.

Question 10

How do spider crabs conform to salinity?

Answer 10

Spider crabs can lose or gain water to conform to the salinity of the water it is in.

Question 11

What are the metabolic costs and ecological niches of conformers?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Where do spider crabs primarily survive?

Answer 12

Spider crabs have a very narrow range of locations they can survive in, mainly situated around the Pacific near Japan.

Question 13

What is a regulator?

Answer 13

Regulators maintain their internal environment regardless of external environment.

Question 14

How can elephants regulate their temperature?

Answer 14

Elephants can regulate their temperature through their ears due to their large surface area.

Question 15

How do regulators control their internal environment?

Answer 15

Regulators use metabolism to control their internal environment, which increases the range of possible ecological niches.

Question 16

What is required for regulators to achieve homeostasis?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What is the temperature monitoring centre in the body?

Answer 17

The hypothalamus.

Question 18

How does the hypothalamus communicate temperature changes?

Answer 18

Information is communicated by electrical impulses through nerves.

Question 19

What are effectors in thermoregulation?

Answer 19

Effectors bring about corrective responses to return temperature to normal.

Question 20

What happens in response to an increase in body temperature?

Answer 20

Corrective responses include sweating, vasodilation, and decreased metabolic rate.

Question 21

What is the role of sweating in thermoregulation?

Answer 21

Heat is used to evaporate water in sweat, cooling the skin.

Question 22

What is vasodilation?

Answer 22

Increased blood flow to the skin that increases heat loss.

Question 23

What happens in response to a decrease in body temperature?

Answer 23

Corrective responses include shivering, vasoconstriction, hair erector muscle contraction, and increased metabolic rate.

Question 24

What is the role of shivering in thermoregulation?

Answer 24

Muscle contraction generates heat.

Question 25

What is vasoconstriction?

Answer 25

Decreased blood flow to the skin that decreases heat loss.

Question 26

What do hair erector muscles do during thermoregulation?

Answer 26

They contract to trap a layer of insulating air.

Question 27

Why is thermoregulation important?

Answer 27

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