Thermoregulation in ectotherms

• Ectotherms = use their surroundings to warm their bodies. Their core body temperature is heavily dependent on their environment.
• Ectotherms display a number of behavioural responses which increase or decrease the radiation they absorb from the sun.
• Behavioural responses:

  • spread out/curl up
  • moving into sunny/shady areas
  • pressing body against ground
• Physiological strategies:

  • changing metabolic rate
  • changing body colour