Ecology- Variable adaptations

temporal environmental variation

the description of how environmental conditions change over time

spatial environmental variation

the description of how environmental conditions change over space

phenotypic plasticity

the ability of a single genotype to produce multiple phenotypes

phenotypic trade-off

a situation in which a given phenotype experiences higher fitness in one environment, whereas other phenotypes experience higher fitness in other environments

acclimation

an environmentally induced change in an individuals physiology

hermaphrodites

individuals that produce both male and female gametes; individuals are able to fertilize their eggs with their own sperm

inbreeding depression

the decrease in fitness caused by matings between close relatives due to offspring inheriting deleterious alleles from both eggs and the sperm

microhabitat

a specific location within a habitat that typically differs in environmental conditions from other parts of the habitat

isozymes

different forms of an enzyme that catalyze a given reaction

migration

the seasonal movement of animals from one region to another

dormancy

a condition in which organisms dramatically reduce their metabolic processes

diapause

a partial or complete physiological shutdown in response to unfavorable conditions; common in insects

hibernation

a type of dormancy that occurs in endotherms in which individuals reduce the energetic costs of being active by lowering their heart rate and decreasing their body temperature

torpor

a brief period of dormancy that occurs in birds and mammals in which individuals reduce their activity and their body temperature

aestivation

the shutting down of metabolic processes during the summer in response to hot or dry conditions; helps animals avoid heat stress and water loss

optimal foraging theory

a model describing foraging behavior that provides the best balance between the costs and benefits of different foraging strategies

central place foraging

foraging behavior in which acquired food is brought to a central place, such as a nest with young

risk sensitive foraging

foraging behavior that is influenced by the presence of predators

handling time

the amount of time tha