3020 Lecture 5
Amber Stokes・2 minutes read
Endotherms have higher metabolic rates, while ectotherms rely on environmental temperatures, and the Thermon neutral zone (TNZ) signifies the basal metabolic rate (BMR) unaffected by temperature changes. Metabolic rates are impacted by digestion, reproductive status, and activity levels, essential for survival and energy conservation in various organisms.
Insights
- Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) represents the metabolic rate in the Thermon neutral zone (TNZ) where temperature changes do not affect it, excluding thermoregulation energy expenditure, making it a crucial measure of metabolic activity.
- Oxygen consumption in both ectotherms and endotherms provides insights into basic metabolism, digestion, activity levels, and reproductive state, showcasing the significance of metabolic processes in various physiological functions.
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Recent questions
What is the Thermon neutral zone (TNZ)?
Range of unaffected metabolic rate by temperature changes.
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Summary
00:00
Metabolic Rates in Endotherms and Ectotherms
- Endotherms have a different metabolic rate compared to ectotherms, with high rates in low and high temperatures, and low rates in moderate temperatures.
- The Thermon neutral zone (TNZ) is a range of temperatures where metabolic rate remains unaffected by temperature changes, representing the basal metabolic rate (BMR).
- BMR excludes thermoregulation energy expenditure, making it a key measure of metabolic rate.
- Endotherms have significantly higher metabolic rates than ectotherms regardless of temperature.
- Oxygen consumption reveals information about basic metabolism, digestion, activity levels, and reproductive state in both ectotherms and endotherms.
- Digestion increases an organism's metabolic rate, leading to a peak shortly after feeding and a decline during fasting periods.
- Burmese pythons exemplify how metabolic rate increases dramatically after a large meal, with organs shrinking during fasting periods and regrowing post-feeding.
- Starvation decreases metabolic rate to conserve energy, aiding survival until another food source is found.
- Activity levels and time of day influence metabolic rate, with diurnal animals having higher rates during the day and nocturnal animals at night.
- Reproductive status significantly impacts metabolic rate, with pregnant humans experiencing a 30% increase near term due to fetal growth requirements.
23:50
"Metabolic Rates and Reproductive Cycles in Squirrels"
- Golden mantled ground squirrels studied for metabolic rates and reproductive cycles.
- Lactation period for squirrels takes up one-third of yearly energy.
- Reproduction in mammals and endotherms demands significant energy.
- Ectothermic reproduction also requires substantial energy.
- Energetic tradeoffs exist between reproduction and immune function.
- Seasonal fluctuations in immune function based on breeding periods.
- Immune function decreases during breeding seasons for various animals.
- Immune function high pre/post-reproduction, low during reproduction.
- Body size influences mass-specific metabolic rates.
- Small animals have higher metabolic rates due to surface area to volume ratio.
48:51
Heat Transfer Mechanisms in Ectotherms
- Ectotherms have low metabolic rates and produce little heat, relying on their environment to control body temperature.
- Heat production is a significant aspect of metabolism, measured in calories, with one calorie being the energy required to raise one gram of water by 1°C.
- Calculating heat transfer involves understanding variables like metabolic heat (HV), conduction and convection (HC), radiation (HR), evaporation (HE), and stored heat.
- Heat transfer between objects follows rules where heat flows from warmer to cooler objects, with greater temperature differences leading to more significant heat flux.
- Surface area and contact between objects impact heat transfer, with more contact resulting in greater flux, similar to diffusion with concentration gradients.
- Conduction involves direct heat transfer between bodies in physical contact, like ectotherms absorbing heat from warm rocks or individuals losing heat to cool floors.
- Convection is the transfer of heat through bulk movement of fluids, such as air or water, with wind or air temperature affecting heat transfer to or from the body.
- Radiation is the transfer of electromagnetic energy without contact, influencing heat exchange between objects based on their temperatures.
- Ectotherms rely on behavioral changes, like sitting on warm rocks to warm up and moving to cooler locations to cool down, to regulate body temperature.
- Understanding heat transfer mechanisms like conduction, convection, and radiation is crucial for comprehending how organisms manage their body temperatures.
01:13:10
Radiation: Wavelengths, Energy, and Heat Absorption
- Different types of radiation have varying wavelengths and energy levels, with longer wavelengths like radio waves being low energy, while shorter wavelengths like gamma rays are high energy; the sun emits short wavelengths, allowing for the absorption of heat, and humans constantly radiate heat to the environment, with examples like feeling heat radiating off a person with a fever.
