Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which groups of snakes have independently evolved infrared thermal radiation?
Which groups of snakes have independently evolved infrared thermal radiation?
- Pit vipers, boas, and pythons (correct)
- Only pit vipers and boas
- Only pit vipers
- Only pythons and boas
What physiological condition do ectotherms experience in cold environments?
What physiological condition do ectotherms experience in cold environments?
- Constant metabolic rate regardless of temperature
- Diapause during increased temperatures
- Metabolic increase and hibernation
- Reduction in metabolic rate (correct)
How do insects respond to environmental cues during diapause?
How do insects respond to environmental cues during diapause?
- By increasing oxygen consumption
- By migrating to warmer climates
- By reproducing rapidly
- By storing lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates (correct)
What does common descent emphasize in evolutionary biology?
What does common descent emphasize in evolutionary biology?
Which statement best describes the concept of exaptation?
Which statement best describes the concept of exaptation?
What is the primary focus of eco-physiology?
What is the primary focus of eco-physiology?
How do organisms commonly regulate their internal environment in response to external changes?
How do organisms commonly regulate their internal environment in response to external changes?
What does phenotypic plasticity refer to in eco-physiology?
What does phenotypic plasticity refer to in eco-physiology?
Which of the following best describes how environmental factors influence physiological processes?
Which of the following best describes how environmental factors influence physiological processes?
What is meant by 'conformers' in the context of physiological regulation?
What is meant by 'conformers' in the context of physiological regulation?
Which statement about allometric scaling is true?
Which statement about allometric scaling is true?
How might desert lizards regulate their body temperature according to physiological principles?
How might desert lizards regulate their body temperature according to physiological principles?
What aspect of genotype is highlighted in discussions of eco-physiology?
What aspect of genotype is highlighted in discussions of eco-physiology?
What is the term for the maintenance of stable internal conditions despite external environmental changes?
What is the term for the maintenance of stable internal conditions despite external environmental changes?
Which of the following describes phenotypic plasticity?
Which of the following describes phenotypic plasticity?
What distinguishes acclimatization from acclimation?
What distinguishes acclimatization from acclimation?
Which potential reason was proposed for why zebras have stripes?
Which potential reason was proposed for why zebras have stripes?
What is the primary focus of physiology in the context of animal adaptations?
What is the primary focus of physiology in the context of animal adaptations?
Which term describes developmental plasticity that leads to irreversible changes?
Which term describes developmental plasticity that leads to irreversible changes?
Which of the following factors primarily influences the distribution patterns of species?
Which of the following factors primarily influences the distribution patterns of species?
What is meant by 'critical tolerance limits' in relation to species survival?
What is meant by 'critical tolerance limits' in relation to species survival?
What do performance curves help to illustrate in organisms?
What do performance curves help to illustrate in organisms?
How do the physiological mechanisms influence performance curves?
How do the physiological mechanisms influence performance curves?
In terms of thermal performance curves, how do ectotherms and endotherms differ?
In terms of thermal performance curves, how do ectotherms and endotherms differ?
What does the term 'zone of overlap' suggest in the context of species distribution?
What does the term 'zone of overlap' suggest in the context of species distribution?
Why does water conduct heat faster than air for ectotherms?
Why does water conduct heat faster than air for ectotherms?
Which of the following statements about thermal neutral zones (TNZ) is correct?
Which of the following statements about thermal neutral zones (TNZ) is correct?
How do performance curves differ across various abiotic factors?
How do performance curves differ across various abiotic factors?
What role does behavioral thermoregulation play in ectotherms?
What role does behavioral thermoregulation play in ectotherms?
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Study Notes
Eco-Physiology Overview
- Eco-physiology, or physiological ecology, examines how physiological systems adapt and evolve for survival and reproduction in specific environments.
- It studies the impact of environmental controls on physiological processes and how these processes shape ecological phenomena.
Physiological Regulation Mechanisms
- Homeostasis maintains internal constancy in organisms despite external environmental changes.
- Two types of physiological regulators exist:
- Conformers adjust internal states to reflect external conditions.
- Regulators maintain constant internal conditions irrespective of external changes.
Adaptations to Environmental Changes
- Organisms cope with daily and seasonal variations through behavioral and physiological adaptations.
- Examples include:
- Desert lizards burrowing for temperature regulation.
- Spider crabs adjusting to salinity by modulating water content.
Phenotypic and Genotypic Interaction
- Phenotype arises from the interaction of genotype (genetic makeup) with environmental factors.
- Phenotypic plasticity allows a single genotype to express multiple phenotypes based on environmental conditions.
- Two forms of plasticity:
- Irreversible (e.g., polyphenism)
- Reversible (e.g., acclimation and acclimatization)
Performance Curves and Tolerance Limits
- Performance curves represent the relationship between physiological performance and environmental factors.
- Each species has an optimal environmental range defined by critical tolerance limits, which influence species distribution and community structure.
Temperature Regulation
- Ectotherms (cold-blooded organisms) and endotherms (warm-blooded organisms) have different mechanisms of thermoregulation.
- Thermal neutral zones (TNZ) indicate metabolic rates are constant across varying temperatures for endotherms.
Behavioral Adaptations in Ectotherms
- Ectotherms regulate their temperature behaviorally by basking or seeking shade, with their heat exchange dependent on the medium they inhabit (land, water, air).
- Strategies for cold survival include migration, diapause, and hibernation.
Evolutionary Considerations in Physiology
- The evolution of physiological traits is impacted by natural selection and genetic constraints.
- Not all traits are optimally adaptive; some may be remnants of historical selective pressures (phylogenetic inertia).
Adaptive Traits and Exaptations
- Some traits that are currently beneficial may have initially evolved under different selective pressures, leading to a reevaluation of what constitutes an adaptive trait.
- Example: Bone sutures in mammals may enhance birth of large-brained offspring but arose from evolutionary constraints.
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