Animal Form and Function Biology 304 - Part 2

These flashcards cover the key concepts of animal form and function, focusing on definitions, mechanisms, and examples related to adaptations, homeostasis, and biological processes.

Symbiosis

An interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association.

Parasitoid Wasps

Wasps that inject venom into other insects and lay their eggs on or in them, with about 500,000 species.

Adaptations

Heritable traits that allow individuals to survive and reproduce better in a certain environment.

Acclimatization

A short-term phenotypic change in response to an environmental change.

Homeostasis

Stability in the chemical and physical conditions within an organism's cells, tissues, and organs.

Regulators

Organisms that use mechanisms of homeostasis to moderate internal changes despite external changes.

Conformers

Organisms that allow body parameters to track their environment.

Negative feedback loop

A control mechanism where change in a monitored parameter causes the system to counteract further changes in the same direction.

Biological Thermoregulation

The active management of an organism's heat loss and gain.

Ectotherms

Animals that rely on environmental heat to regulate their body temperature.

Endotherms

Animals that generate their own heat through metabolic processes.

Metabolic rate

A measure of the energy expenditure of an animal, indicating its bioenergetic strategy.

Feedback circuits

Systems that sense changes and respond appropriately to maintain homeostasis - involves receptors, control centers, and effectors.

Trade-offs

Inescapable compromises between traits due to evolutionary constraints.

Firefly flash mechanism

A chemical reaction involving luciferin and ATP to produce light, typically used for mating signals.

Physiological changes: Acute

Short-term responses to a changing environment.

Physiological changes: Chronic

Long-term responses to a changing environment.

Physiological changes: Development

Changes that occur over the course of an organism's development.