THERMOREGULATION

• WHAT ARE ECTOTHERMS?

  organisms that gain heat from the environment, therefore their body temperature fluctuates with the environment

  -> e.g. reptiles
• WHAT ARE ENDOTHERMS?

  organisms that gain heat from internal metabolic activities, therefore their body temperature remains relatively constant

  -> e.g. birds/ mammals
• THERMOREGULATION IN ECTOTHERMS?

  1. Expose themselves to the Sun
  2. Taking shelter
  3. Gaining warmth from ground
• THERMOREGULATION IN ENDOTHERMS?

  CONSERVING/ GAINING HEAT:

  1. Vasoconstriction
  2. Shivering
  3. Raising of hair
  4. Increased metabolic rate
  5. Decrease in sweating
  6. Behavioural mechanisms (sheltering from wind, basking, huddling)

  LOSING HEAT

  1. Vasodilation
  2. Increased sweating
  3. Lowering body hair
  4. Behavioural mechanisms (sheltering, searching for shade)