29 Jun Ectotherms employ various behavioral & physiological mecha
Ectotherms employ various behavioral & physiological mechanisms to regulate their body temperatures. These mechanisms rely almost completely on the environment. Ectotherms have no internal heat regulation mechanism like endotherms. Thus they are heavily reliant on external heat sources to maintain their bodies at an optimum temperature for the body’s functions. These mechanisms can be classified into behaviour and physiological mechanisms. 1) Behavioral Mechanisms: To heat their bodies ectotherms will often take advantage of a sunny day and absorb its heat. They will especially opt to do this before or after energy requiring activities such as flying or swimming. To cool off they may take shelter from the heat especially the hottest part of the day by hiding under rocks sitting in the shade or entering holes/caves. This is why you see butterflies reptiles frogs and other ectotherms bask in the sun with their body spread out to increase the surface area for more heat absorption. And when it’s too hot you see them hiding in the shade or near bodies of water. Some animals exhibit group behavioral mechanisms. A good example is how honey bees huddle together in large groups to retain & generate heat. A similar example is how some gregarious caterpillars bask in the sun in large groups to cluster heat. 2) Physiological Mechanisms: These mechanisms function similarly but not identically to the mechanisms of heat regulation found in endotherms. They vary from molecular level mechanisms to organ level mechanisms and body level mechanisms. Molecular level example: Increase or decrease of cell phospholipid saturation to increase or decrease the melting point of the cell membrane and other cellular organelles. Organ level examples: Heat exchange between the cold blood at the skin’s surface with hot blood circulating from the body’s core. Another example is the increased secretions of mucus on some amphibians’ skins to cool the body by evaporation. Body level example: Animals that engage in torpor (stillness no activity) for different periods of time to conserve energy and heat. It can occur on a daily basis for short periods of time (lizards lie very still if you’ve ever observed them!) or up to several years (hibernation).
Our website has a team of professional writers who can help you write any of your homework. They will write your papers from scratch. We also have a team of editors just to make sure all papers are of HIGH QUALITY & PLAGIARISM FREE. To make an Order you only need to click Ask A Question and we will direct you to our Order Page at WriteDemy. Then fill Our Order Form with all your assignment instructions. Select your deadline and pay for your paper. You will get it few hours before your set deadline.
Fill in all the assignment paper details that are required in the order form with the standard information being the page count, deadline, academic level and type of paper. It is advisable to have this information at hand so that you can quickly fill in the necessary information needed in the form for the essay writer to be immediately assigned to your writing project. Make payment for the custom essay order to enable us to assign a suitable writer to your order. Payments are made through Paypal on a secured billing page. Finally, sit back and relax.
About Writedemy
We are a professional paper writing website. If you have searched a question and bumped into our website just know you are in the right place to get help in your coursework. We offer HIGH QUALITY & PLAGIARISM FREE Papers.
How It Works
To make an Order you only need to click on “Order Now” and we will direct you to our Order Page. Fill Our Order Form with all your assignment instructions. Select your deadline and pay for your paper. You will get it few hours before your set deadline.
Are there Discounts?
All new clients are eligible for 20% off in their first Order. Our payment method is safe and secure.