BIO120H1 Lecture 15: Lecture Fifteen: Physiological Ecology of Animals: Heat Balance
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BIO120H1 Full Course Notes
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Example of one environmental challenge to physiology: heat balance/thermal ecology of animals: Tradeoff principle and adaptive compromises (example of weasel body shape) One limiting factor (selected from several possibilities): heat exchange. Transfer by direct contact with substrate ex) heat transfers from hot object to cold object. Head transfer mediated by moving uid (usually air or water) Heat moves from hot object to cold uid, which moves away from you. Heat can continually be removed by a constant stream of uid. Circulatory system redistributes heat among body parts, especially from core to appendages. Size matters to heat balance (and other balances of gains and losses): Surface area is interface where heat is exchanged. Volume: provides inertia larger volume = more heat storage capacity (more heat to get rid of) Homeotherms within related groups of animals, tend to be larger at higher latitudes (colder temperatures). ex)
