Eco-physiology Overview
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Questions and Answers

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?

  • 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?

  • 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?

    <p>General biological principles such as DNA and membranes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the concept of exaptation?

    <p>Some traits may evolve for one purpose but serve another function later</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of eco-physiology?

    <p>Understanding the interaction between physiological processes and the environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do organisms commonly regulate their internal environment in response to external changes?

    <p>By maintaining homeostasis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does phenotypic plasticity refer to in eco-physiology?

    <p>The ability of a single genotype to produce different phenotypic outcomes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes how environmental factors influence physiological processes?

    <p>They govern the molecular interactions and functions within organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by 'conformers' in the context of physiological regulation?

    <p>Organisms that change their internal conditions to reflect the external environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about allometric scaling is true?

    <p>Body size can influence biochemical and physical patterns.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How might desert lizards regulate their body temperature according to physiological principles?

    <p>By basking in sunlight or burrowing in sand</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of genotype is highlighted in discussions of eco-physiology?

    <p>Genotype is the outcome of evolutionary processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the maintenance of stable internal conditions despite external environmental changes?

    <p>Homeostasis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes phenotypic plasticity?

    <p>A single genotype producing multiple phenotypes based on environments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes acclimatization from acclimation?

    <p>Acclimatization involves multiple variables in natural environments, while acclimation involves a single variable in lab environments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which potential reason was proposed for why zebras have stripes?

    <p>To confuse predators</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of physiology in the context of animal adaptations?

    <p>Exploring diversity in body form and coping strategies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term describes developmental plasticity that leads to irreversible changes?

    <p>Polyphenism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors primarily influences the distribution patterns of species?

    <p>Both biotic and abiotic factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by 'critical tolerance limits' in relation to species survival?

    <p>Conditions that a species can only tolerate for short durations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do performance curves help to illustrate in organisms?

    <p>Variation in fitness across environmental conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do the physiological mechanisms influence performance curves?

    <p>They dictate the overall trend and shape of the curves</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In terms of thermal performance curves, how do ectotherms and endotherms differ?

    <p>Ectotherms rely on environmental heat for temperature regulation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'zone of overlap' suggest in the context of species distribution?

    <p>Potential competition and biotic interactions among species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does water conduct heat faster than air for ectotherms?

    <p>The conductive properties of water allow faster heat transfer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about thermal neutral zones (TNZ) is correct?

    <p>TNZ is where metabolism is minimized and constant in endotherms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do performance curves differ across various abiotic factors?

    <p>The mechanisms defining the shape vary, but concepts remain consistent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does behavioral thermoregulation play in ectotherms?

    <p>It enables ectotherms to seek optimal environments for heat retention or loss</p> Signup and view all the answers

    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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    Description

    Explore the fascinating field of eco-physiology, which examines how physiological systems adapt and evolve to enhance survival and reproduction in diverse environments. This quiz covers daily and seasonal adaptations of organisms and the interplay between ecological phenomena and physiological controls. Test your understanding of the principles of evolutionary physiology as well.

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