U2.5 Metabolism in adverse conditions Flashcards
What happens to regulators when the external environment varies beyond tolerable limits for normal metabolic activity?
They are unable to maintain their internal environment.
What is dormancy?
A period when an organism’s metabolic activity decreases and allows for the conservation of energy.
Why do organisms go into dormancy?
To survive during adverse conditions by reducing their metabolic activity. This is part of some organisms’ life cycle to allow survival when the cost of continued normal metabolic activity would be too high.
What are the two types of triggering dormancy?
Predictive and consequential.
When does consequential dormancy occur?
After the onset of adverse conditions e.g. a drought.
When does predictive dormancy occur?
Before the onset of adverse conditions e.g. seasonal.
What are the three types of dormancy?
Hibernation, aestivation, daily torpor.
What would cause an animal to go into hibernation? Give examples of animals that hibernate.
Winter/ periods of low temperatures. It is long term.
Dormouse, bat, hedgehog.
What would cause an animal to go into aestivation? What animals do this?
Periods of high temperature or drought.
Snail, earthworm, lizard.
Compare aestivation and hibernation.
Aestivation requires less energy than hibernation to maintain a minimum body temperature.
What is daily torpor?
When some animals with high metabolic rates can temporarily reduce their metabolic rate e.g. hummingbird.
Why would an animal expend energy to migrate?
To avoid adverse environmental conditions e.g. temperature, water and food scarcity.
What is migration?
A regular patter of behaviour and involves relocation to an area with more suitable environmental conditions.
What is meant by migratory behaviour having an inflexible innate element?
It is inherited and is carried out by all individuals e.g. timing and direction.
What triggers innate behaviour?
An external stimulus such as photoperiod.
