Exam 2 lecture 2 Flashcards
Do different species have different reproductive strategies?
Yes, they have varied strategies to maximize genetic survival. Some prioritize competition and dominance to secure mates. Others rely on cooperation and social bonds.
Do all species follow conventional biological rules regarding dominance and reproduction?
Not all species follow conventional biological rules regarding
dominance and reproduction. ex: lemurs
Are male or female lemurs more aggressive?
females exhibit higher aggression than males and females dominate males
What are the 3 ways female dominance manifests in lemurs?
Food Control
Females claim the best food sources and prevent
males from accessing them.
Sleeping spots
Prime resting areas are occupied by dominant
females.
Physical aggression
Females attack males when necessary to maintain
control.
Why are female lemurs more aggressive?
Hormones produced by pregnant females affect the development of
aggression in offspring. Increased exposure to specific prenatal hormones leads to more aggressive female behavior.
Female lemurs are more aggressive than male lemurs, but they have lower testosterone. Why is this?
Males have approximately 17 times more testosterone than
females. Testosterone is not the primary driver of aggression in lemurs. Female lemurs exhibit aggression due to different hormonal mechanisms (androsterone) unrelated to testosterone. This challenges the common assumption that higher testosterone directly correlates with increased aggression. This example shows that the biological “rules” governing aggression and dominance aren’t universal.
What are the fundamental biological needs across species?
reproduction, locomotion, respiration, ingestion and digestion, elimination, defense mechanisms, and thermoregulation
What is a poikliotherm?
(Cold-blooded animals that regulate temperature by changing location.
What is a homeotherm?
Warm-blooded animals that regulate temperature internally.
How does posture influence heat exchange?
Reducing surface area conserves heat.
Increasing surface area facilitates cooling.
What conducts heat better, water or air?
Water conducts heat more efficiently than air, influencing how
Aquatic animals regulate temperature.
Does evolution favor adaptability or rigid biological laws?
adaptability
Do all animals have a temperature range?
Yes, all animals have a limited range of body temperatures where they can thrive. If they go outside those temperatures, they will die
Examples of poiklotherms
Most fish are poikilotherms because water is a good conductor of heat but some fish are also poikilotherms, including amphibians and reptiles
What do homeotherms have?
brown fat pads under the skin that are able to burn energy and heat the body when certain hormones are released
Which fish are warm-blooded?
Dark tuna fish is warm-blooded; tuna can detect that they are warmer than the water, but the rest of the body remains cold-blooded. Moonfish are warmblooded. large fish, 1000 pounds
Surface area and heat produced and released
the larger the animal, the more heat they produce and retain and the less they release
What size animals are usually warm-blooded?
large, small animals tend to not be warm-blooded
Metabolic rate and calories consumed based on size
Large animals have a lower metabolic rate per unit body weight. Consume fewer calories per pound compared to smaller animals.
Small animals: Lose heat rapidly due to the high surface-area-to-volume ratio and require lots of food.
Example: Hummingbirds require constant food intake. Some enter temporary hibernation to conserve energy at night.
Are insects warm-blooded?
No, they are too small to maintain a warm-blooded metabolism. Lack of a vascular system to efficiently circulate nutrients. Rely on osmosis for nutrients distribution.
Humans are thought to have 5 senses. What are they?
Olfaction (smell)
Gustation (taste)
Vision (sight)
Tactile sense (touch)
Audition (hearing)
Additionally, vestibular senses like balance and movement are sensitive to gravity and acceleration
Which sense developed first
Olfaction and gustation developed first.
How do flies use olfaction?
Flies have their olfactory organs in their feet. Many different odors we can pick up in the environment and it provides us with information about the environment (predators, prey, conspecifics: pheromones are a means of communication)
How do dogs and rabbits use olfaction
Dogs mark their territory with urine
Rabbits rub their chins against stones and sticks around their territory to warn other rabbits to keep out
