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Physiological

Ecology (Ch 7)

Learning Objec8ves
A"er studying this sec+on, you should be able to: 1. Understand and compare ectothermy and endothermy. 2. Understand and compare poikilotherms and homeotherms. 3. Know several strategies used by ecotherms to survive extreme cold, and the role of torpor and hiberna8on in energy conserva8on. 4. Compare and contrast the means of gas exchange in water-breathing animals with that of air- breathing ones.

Thermo-Biology
Limited temperature range to support life. On Earth, this ranges from polar regions to tropics and hot springs. Some Antarc8c lichens photosynthesize at temperatures < 0C. Some deep sea bacteria live at temperatures > 100C.
Lepus americanus

The snowshoe hare can maintain its body temperature of +39C at outside temperatures of -40C and below.

Balancing Heat
HS = Hm Hcd Hcv Hr - He
HS = Total heat stored in an organism Hm = Gained via metabolism/absorp8on Hcd = Gained / lost via conduc8on Hcv = Gained / lost via convec8on Hr = Gained / lost via radia8on He = Lost via evapora8on

Ectotherms vs. Endotherms


Ectotherms external environment is the main source of heat. Endotherms rely on their own metabolism to keep warm.

Ectotherms in cool climates have cool- adapted enzymes.

Use large part of their energy for body heat.

Homeotherms and Poikilotherms


Homeotherms maintain Poikilotherms cannot constant body maintain a steady body temperature. temperature. Some overlap
Homeothermic ectotherms Par8al endothermy

Poikilotherms o[en bask to warm up.

Metabolic heat

Variable body temp

Constant body temp

Environmental heat/cool

Are lizards toast?


Huey et al. (2010) Science Warming is held responsible for a rash of ex8nc8ons of global lizard popula8ons. Sceloporus popula8ons (all with intact habitats) went ex8nct in recent decades.

CBC Radios Quirks and Quarks Program

No escape from warming

Sceloporus serrifer

How is warming aec8ng behaviour?


On hot days, lizards seek cooler refuges, such as burrows. With warming, lizards will spend longer periods in refuges, reducing foraging 8me, such that net energy gain becomes insucient for reproduc8on; ex8nc8on ensues.

Huey et al. (2010) Science

Extreme Temperature Adapta8ons

Wood Frog Rana sylva4ca

How?
Cryoprotectants
Released at approx. 0 to -2 deg. C Produced in the liver and shuhled to other organs via blood.

Watch

Heat conserva8on
Eec8ve thermoregula8on requires ability to conserve heat: insula+on Hairs and feathers (down) work by trapping stagnant air
Feather structure
Bubo scandiacus

Fat is a good insulator (mainly in aqua8c organisms) and keeps organisms warm

Feathers of the snowy owl insulate well.


Countercurrent Heat Exchange

Response to Cold and Heat


Responses to cold: Shivering: muscle contrac8ons produce heat. Vasoconstric8on reduces heat loss. Muscles contract to u up feathers or fur when cold (goose- bumps in humans). Seeking sun. Responses to heat: Swea8ng and pan8ng (evapora8on cools). Vasodilata8on, especially in large-area organs such as ears. Reduc8on of metabolic rate. Seeking shade.

Behavioural Responses to Cold and Heat


All means of slowing or stopping metabolic rate

Torpor: Rela8vely short- term condi8on of decreased ac8vity (bats) Hiberna8on: Inac8vity during winter months Bats reduce their body temperature (turtles) during inac8ve 8mes of the day to reduce their energy usedaily Es8va8on: Inac8vity torpor during hot months (desert tortoise)

Torpor

Importance of Ions and Water


Water composes 60-90% of living organisms. Fluids are lost during evapora8on, urina8on and defeca8on. Ions (e.g. K+, Na+, Ca2+) are important for many biological processes. Mechanisms are needed to regulate the amount of water and ions and they need to be balanced between the intra- and extra-cellular uids.

Marine Environments Osmoconformers/Ionoconformers


Organisms that match the osmo8c and ionic characteris8cs of their environment.

Osmoregulators/Ionoregulators
Maintain a dierent extracellular ionic composi8on from that of the environment.

Water and Ions in Terrestrial Environments


Water loss by excre8on, evapora8on Minimize water loss by:
Concentra8ng the urine and feces Dehumidifying exhaled air while hydra8ng the respiratory surface Integument impermeable to water

Water loss across the skin

Animals that Breathe Water


Most aqua8c animals have their gas exchange surface exposed to water (gill). Challenges:
Low [O2] in water (0.00075% vs. 21%) Water is more viscous than air, more energy is required to move water over exchange surface.

Damsely nymph

Caddisy Larva

Adapta8ons
Structures to move water over the gills Counter-current ow

Mangrove Killish
Harsh environment, mangrove forests. Capable of breathing air when water is not available. When air-breathing, cell mass grows between the lamellae. When they return to water, they shed the cells.
Ong et al. (2007) University of Guelph

Light micrographs of gill laments of K. marmoratus from (A) control condi8ons in water, (B) 1 h of air exposure, (C) 1 day of air exposure, (D,E) 1 week of air exposure and (F) 1 week of air exposure followed by 1 week of recovery in water. Scale bar, 40 m.

Animals that Breathe Air


Terrestrial animals breath air. Lungs or tracheal system as exchange surfaces. Some amphibians can exchange gases through skin. Challenges: Water loss due to evapora8on.

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