Coping with Environmental Variation: Temperature and Water

A set of 25 vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes about coping with environmental variation, focusing on temperature and water.

Coping with Environmental Variation

Strategies organisms use to deal with changes in temperature and water availability.

Tolerance Limits

The maximum or minimum conditions under which an organism can survive.

Acclimatization

Short-term, reversible physiological or behavioral adjustments made by an organism in response to environmental stress.

Physiological Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their physical environments that affect survival.

Climate Envelope

The range of environmental conditions suitable for a species.

Ecotypes

Populations with specific adaptations to unique environmental conditions.

Ectotherms

Organisms that rely on external environmental heat sources for temperature regulation.

Endotherms

Organisms that generate internal heat to maintain a stable body temperature.

Thermoneutral Zone

The range of environmental temperatures in which an endotherm can maintain a constant metabolic rate.

Lower Critical Temperature

The temperature below which metabolic heat generation must increase to maintain body temperature.

Metabolic Rate

The rate of metabolism of an organism, which can vary with environmental conditions.

Torpor

A state of decreased metabolic activity that allows organisms to survive adverse conditions.

Cryonics

A method of preserving biological tissues by freezing, with the hope of future revival.

Transpiration

The process by which water vapor is released from the plant leaves through stomata.

Stomatal Control

Regulation of leaf temperature by controlling the opening and closing of stomata.

Glycerol

A solute that lowers the freezing point of body fluids, helping some organisms survive cold temperatures.

Isozymes

Different forms of an enzyme that can function optimally under different temperature conditions.

Desiccation-Tolerant Organisms

Organisms that can survive extreme dehydration by entering a state of suspended animation.

Pubescence

Hairs on leaf surfaces that reflect solar energy and help with temperature regulation.

Behavioral Adaptations

Changes in behavior that organisms use to cope with environmental stress, such as seeking shade.

Energy Trade-offs

The allocation of energy resources that can impact survival functions and reproduction.

Environmental Gradients

Variations in environmental factors such as temperature, moisture, and sunlight across a landscape.

Rate of Physiological Process

The speed at which biological processes occur in response to environmental conditions.

Hydration states of organisms

The varying levels of water contained in tissues, affecting metabolic activity.

Survival strategies in arid conditions

Mechanisms organisms use to cope with limited water availability.

Evaporative Heat Loss

The loss of heat through processes like sweating, panting, or transpiration that helps to cool the body.