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Related Concept Videos

Thermoregulation01:26

Thermoregulation

2.1K
The human body has a sophisticated thermoregulation system that employs negative feedback mechanisms to maintain an optimal core temperature. When the core temperature drops, peripheral and central thermoreceptors send signals to the hypothalamus, activating the heat-promoting center. This center triggers several responses aimed at increasing the core temperature. First, vasoconstriction reduces the flow of warm blood from internal organs to the skin so that the heat is not lost from the skin,...
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Responses to Heat and Cold Stress02:45

Responses to Heat and Cold Stress

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Every organism has an optimum temperature range within which healthy growth and physiological functioning can occur. At the ends of this range, there will be a minimum and maximum temperature that interrupt biological processes.
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Body Temperature01:25

Body Temperature

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The body's temperature, measured in degrees, is determined by the balance between heat production and dissipation to the surrounding environment. For instance, if exercising vigorously, the body will produce more heat, causing sweat and dissipating that heat. Despite extreme environmental conditions and physical exertion, the human temperature-control system maintains a constant core body temperature (the temperature of deep tissues, which are the tissues located beneath the skin and other...
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Body Temperature01:07

Body Temperature

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Body temperature reflects the equilibrium between heat production and heat loss within the body. Most heat is generated by metabolically active tissues, particularly the liver, heart, brain, kidneys, and endocrine organs. At rest, skeletal muscles contribute 20–30% of total heat production, but during vigorous exercise, this can increase up to 30–40 times.
The average body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F) and typically ranges from 36.1–37.2°C...
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Trophic Efficiency00:46

Trophic Efficiency

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Trophic level transfer efficiency (TLTE) is a measure of the total energy transfer from one trophic level to the next. Due to extensive energy loss as metabolic heat, an average of only 10% of the original energy obtained is passed on to the next level. This pattern of energy loss severely limits the possible number of trophic levels in a food chain.
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Heating and Cooling Curves02:44

Heating and Cooling Curves

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When a substance—isolated from its environment—is subjected to heat changes, corresponding changes in temperature and phase of the substance is observed; this is graphically represented by heating and cooling curves.
For instance, the addition of heat raises the temperature of a solid; the amount of heat absorbed depends on the heat capacity of the solid (q = mcsolidΔT). According to thermochemistry, the relation between the amount of heat absorbed or released by a substance, q, and its...
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Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions
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Climate dependent heating efficiency in the common lizard.

Alexis Rutschmann1,2, David Rozen-Rechels3,4, Andréaz Dupoué2

  • 1School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand.

Ecology and Evolution
|August 14, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Environmental conditions influence lizard heating rates. Lizards with better body condition and those from wetter habitats exhibit faster heat gain, showing how climate shapes thermoregulation.

Keywords:
ectothermsheating efficiencyheating ratethermoregulation behaviortime budget

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Physiology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Thermoregulation is vital for ectotherm performance but costly in time and energy.
  • Behavioral and biophysical strategies minimize thermoregulation costs in heterogeneous environments.
  • Environmental conditions are expected to drive the evolution of thermoregulation, but direct links to physiological adjustments are understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of environmental conditions on the heating rates of the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara).
  • To determine if phenotypic traits (body condition, dorsal darkness) or abiotic factors (temperature, rainfall) correlate with differences in lizard heating rates.

Main Methods:

  • Sampling of Zootoca vivipara from 10 populations in the Massif Central Mountain range, France.
  • Measurement of individual heating rates.
  • Correlation analysis between heating rates, phenotypic traits, and local abiotic factors.

Main Results:

  • Lizards with higher body condition demonstrated faster heat gain.
  • Individuals inhabiting areas with higher precipitation also exhibited faster heat gain.
  • Heating rates showed a correlation with both phenotypic traits and environmental conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Biophysical aspects of thermoregulation in Zootoca vivipara are shaped by environmentally induced constraints.
  • Body condition and habitat precipitation are key factors influencing lizard heat gain.
  • This study provides evidence for the direct relationship between climatic conditions and thermal physiological adjustments in ectotherms.