Metabolism and Adverse Conditions

Question 1

Describe dormancy

Answer 1

During dormancy, there is a decrease in metabolic rate, heart rate, breathing rate and body’s temperature. Dormancy is a part of some organism’s lifestyle to allow survival during a period where the costs of continued normal metabolic activity are too high. Metabolic rate is reduced to save energy.

Question 2

Describe two types of dormancy

Answer 2

1. Predictive (occurs before onset of adverse conditions, hibernating/daily torpor)
2. Consequential (occurs after onset of adverse conditions, aestivation)

Question 3

Describe migration

Answer 3

Migration avoids adverse conditions by expending energy relocating to a more suitable environment. This can be innate or learned.

Question 4

What are two specialist techniques used to track migration

Answer 4

satellite tracking, leg rings