Animal Adaptations and Physiology Quiz

General Biology II, Part 1 (AEB)

• Course is 2 credits
• Course content outline includes:
  • Characteristics, methods of identification, and classification of viruses
  • Unique characteristics of animal kingdoms (similarities and differences in external features of plants and animals)
  • Ecological adaptations in the animal kingdoms
  • Nutrition, respiration, circulatory systems, excretion, and reproduction in animals (briefs on physiology)
  • Growth and development in animals (briefs on physiology)

Chapter 1: Characteristics, Methods of Identification, and Classification of Viruses

• Viruses are microscopic infectious agents that play significant roles in medicine, biology, and ecology
• Viruses are non-cellular parasitic entities that cannot be classified within any kingdom
• Viruses infect diverse organisms (bacteria, plants, and animals)
• Viruses cannot reproduce on their own; they need to invade a host cell to replicate
• Viruses consist of two or three main components:
  • Genetic material (genome): DNA or RNA, single-stranded (ss) or double-stranded (ds)
  • Capsid: protein coat protecting the viral genome, helical, icosahedral, or complex
  • Envelope (optional): lipid envelope derived from host cell membrane

Chapter 2: Unique Characteristics of the Animal Kingdom

• The biological world is broadly divided into two primary kingdoms: plants and animals.
• Animals are heterotrophic (consume other organisms), while plants are autotrophic (produce food through photosynthesis).
• Plants are generally immobile (rooted) and have external features adapted to harness sunlight and water.
• Animals are generally mobile and have external features adapted for mobility, predation, or foraging.
• Cell structures and composition differ markedly
  • Plants possess cell walls made of cellulose, giving them a rigid structure.
  • Animals do not have cell walls and instead have more flexible membranes.
• Differences in external features drive diversity in function
  • Movement is related to the features of the animal; plants are usually rooted, animals can move
  • External features relate to the environment and survival needs.
  • Examples:
    • Body symmetry (radial (jellyfish), bilateral (humans))
    • Body coverings (skin with fur, feathers, scales)
    • Limbs and locomotion (legs, wings, fins)
    • Mouthparts and feeding strategies (herbivores, carnivores)
    • Sensory organs (eyes, ears, antennae)

Chapter 3: Ecological Adaptations in the Animal Kingdom

• Ecological Adaptation: any morphological, physiological, or behavioral trait that enhances an animal's survival in a particular environment.
• Three types of adaptations
  • Structural (morphological): physical changes in body shape, size, colouration, specialized structures
  • Examples of structural adaptations: camouflage, disruptive colouring, and mimicry
  • Physiological: adaptations relating to internal bodily function
  • Examples: thermoregulation, osmoregulation, and respiration
  • Behavioral: adaptations relating to actions performed by animals to increase their survival chances
  • Examples: migration patterns, foraging strategies, anti-predator behaviours, and communication -Adaptations are essential for the survival and reproductive success of animals in diverse habitats.

Chapter 4: Nutrition

• The processes of consuming, breaking down, absorbing, storing, and utilising food (nutrients) for energy are referred to as nutrition.
• Digestion is the process of breaking down food.
  • Autotrophs (green plants and photosynthetic protists): Can make their food independently
  • Heterotrophs (animals): Must consume other organisms for energy -Herbivores: Eat plants only -Carnivores: Eat meat only -Omnivores: Eat both plants and animals
• Animal digestive systems vary greatly to accommodate different diets.
• Structures for different types of animals (invertebrates, vertebrates) and their feeding habits are unique.
• Importance of Digestion and Nutrients:
  • Essential nutrients are crucial for growth, development, and overall function.
• Understanding food energy and ATP:
  • Carbohydrates are the primary energy source for most animals.
  • The body converts carbohydrates into glucose, which fuels cellular processes and is stored as glycogen.
  • ATP is the body's primary energy currency.

Chapter 5: Respiration

• Respiration is the process of taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide.
• Methods of Respiration:
  • Direct diffusion: In flatworms and some other simple organisms, oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse across the body surface.
  • Skin breathing: In amphibians (like frogs), respiration occurs across the skin while in water
  • Gills: In aquatic organisms, specialized structures called gills extract dissolved oxygen from water.
  • Tracheae: In insects, a system of tubes called tracheae delivers oxygen directly to the body tissues.
  • Lungs: In most terrestrial vertebrates (like humans), lungs are specialized structures for gas exchange.
• Gas exchange occurs across respiratory surfaces by diffusion, based on concentration gradients.
• Mammalian respiration involves the interaction of the lungs, rib cage, and diaphragm, aided by the actions of the muscles.

Chapter 6: Circulation

• The circulatory system is essential for transport of nutrients, gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide), and waste products throughout an animal's body.
• Types:
  • Closed circulatory system: Blood circulates within vessels within the body
  • Open circulatory system: Blood bathes the organs directly.
• The diversity of circulatory systems reflects the diversity of animal life.
• Mammalian hearts are four-chambered, with two atria and two ventricles.
  • The circulatory pathways are controlled by valves and regulated by the nervous and endocrine system's hormonal stimuli.
• Blood components (RBCs, WBCs, and platelets) are essential for this function and are specialized for carrying oxygen, immunity, and clotting.

Chapter 7: Excretion

• Excretion is the removal of metabolic wastes from the body.
• Waste products like urea, uric acid and ammonia are eliminated.
• Mechanisms of excretion vary among organisms, from simple diffusion in unicellular organisms to complex excretory systems in multicellular organisms.

Chapter 8: Reproduction

• Methods of reproduction vary widely among organisms.
• Asexual reproduction: Offspring are genetically identical to the parent
  • Fission (bacteria)
  • Budding (corals, hydras)
  • Fragmentation (stars)
  • Parthogenesis (some insects)
• Sexual reproduction: Offspring inherit genetic material from two parents
  • External Fertilization: eggs and sperm released into the environment (e.g., fish)
  • Internal Fertilization: sperm and egg unite inside the female's body (e.g., mammals, birds)
• Sex determination varies

Chapter 9: Growth and Development

• Processes that transform simple organisms into fully-formed individuals, including cell division, growth, differentiation and tissue organization
• Stages of growth and development:
  • Embryonic Stage (fertilization to birth/hatching, key features of development)
  • Postnatal Stage (birth/hatching through adulthood, further organ development and maturation)
• Impactors or Factors on growth and development processes: Genetics, nutrition, environmental factors, health status, and stress
• Different curve types (Exponential, Asymptotic and Sigmoid) based on biological growth practices

Test your knowledge on various animal adaptations and physiological processes. This quiz covers topics like osmoregulation, thermoregulation, and specific adaptations of different species. Challenge yourself to see how much you know about the incredible ways animals survive and thrive in their environments.