2.4 Conformers and regulators

• The 3 abiotic factors that can affect metabolic rate

  Temperature, salinity and pH
• Conformers


  An animal internal environment is dependent upon external environment.
• Regulators


  An animal that maintains their internal environment regardless of external environment
• Describe conformers in terms of ecological niches and metabolic costs

  They have lower metabolic costs and a narrow range of ecological niches.
• Describe regulators in terms of ecological niches and metabolic costs

  They have higher metabolic costs and wide range of ecological niches
• How regulators maintain their metabolic rate

  They use metabolism to control their internal environment. This regulation requires energy to achieve homeostasis.
• How conformers maintain their metabolic rate

  They use behavioural responses to maintain optimum metabolic rate.
• What is the importance of regulating temperature (thermoregulation)?

  Maintain optimum enzyme activity OR optimum diffusion rates
• How is information passed from the brain to the effectors?

  Electrical impulses through the nerves
• What is the temperature monitoring centre in the brain?

  Hypothalamus
• What is an effector in thermoregulation?

  They bring about corrective responses to return temperature to normal (the skin)
• Name and describe the corrective responses to a decrease in body temperature

  Shivering — muscle contraction generates heat.

  Vasoconstriction — decreased blood flow to skin decreases heat loss.

  Hair erector muscles contract — traps layer of insulating air.

  Increased metabolic rate — more heat produced.
• Name and describe the corrective responses to an increase in body temperature

  Sweating — body heat used to evaporate water in the sweat, cooling the skin.

  Vasodilation — increased blood flow to the skin increases heat loss.

  Decreased metabolic rate — less heat produced.