conformers and regulator

• conformers - inside temp dependant on external factors eg. reptile
• regulators - internal temp stays constant eg mammals
• hypothalamus

  is the temperature monitoring centre in the brain
• conformers use

  behavioural responses to maintain an optimum metabolic rate

  eg. snakes basking in the sun
• regulators use

  metabolism to control their internal environment which increases their range of niches

  regulation requires energy to achieve homeostasis which increases metabolic costs
• Information is communicated by electrical impulses through the nerves to the effectors, which bring about corrective responses to return temperature to normal.
• increased sweating- increrease

  body heat used to evaporate water in the sweat, cooling the skin, releasing heat
• vasodilation- increase

  increased blood flow to the skin increases heat loss through radiation.
• decreased metabolic rate- increase

  lower metabolic rate produces less heat
• vasoconstriction

  decreased blood flow to skin decreases heat loss through radiation.
• shivering

   involuntary muscle contraction generates heat
• Hair erector muscles contract

  causing hairs to raise which traps a layer of insulating air
• Increased metabolic rate

  more heat produced
• importance of thermoregulation

  Regulation of temperature allows for optimal enzyme activity and high diffusion rates to maintain metabolism