Recording-2025-02-28T00:05:10.265Z

Physiological Processes and Food Allocation

• Food plays a crucial role in several physiological processes:

  • Metabolism

  • Growth

  • Reproduction

• Allocation of food resources is essential for the survival and functionality of organisms.

Ectothermy and Environmental Regulation

• Ectothermic species (e.g., fish) rely on external environmental conditions to regulate their physiological processes.

• The rates of these physiological processes are influenced by the surrounding environment.

Ecosystem Context

• Organisms do not exist in isolation; they are part of larger systems.

• Interactions include:

  • Population Level Interactions: Interactions between individuals of the same species.

  • Community Level Interactions: Interactions between individuals of different species.

• All these interactions affect ecosystem services (benefits humans receive from ecosystems) and functions (the natural processes in ecosystems).

• Humans also play a significant role in these interactions and can manage ecosystems, particularly in coastal systems.

• Current research aims to explore how physiological rates are influenced by various drivers:

  • Emphasizes applied ecological management and species-specific studies, such as those on red abalone.

Overarching Framework of Understanding

• The framework includes:

  • Environmental Conditions: Influence on organismal physiological rates.

  • Community Level Interactions: How physiological changes affect species interactions.

  • Ecosystem Functions/Services: How these interactions influence broader ecological services.

  • Human Management: Adapting management strategies based on the ecosystem changes.

Complexity in Ecosystem Interactions

• The scientific framework is complex and not straightforward:

  • Temporal Variation: Seasonal changes in environmental conditions can influence organismal physiology.

  • Resource Variation: The type and timing of food availability which affects physiological rates and behaviors.

  • The interactions can be influenced by climate change, highlighting the ongoing challenges in marine ecosystems.

• In abalone research is also done on diets and variations between those living in two separate tide pools