ENWC201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Proventriculus, Wolverine, Torpor

• School: University of Delaware
• Department: Entomology and Wildlife Conservation
• Course: ENWC201
• Professor: Mc Carthy Kyle

Document Summary

The physical and biological resources required by an organism for its survival and reproduction. Basic components of habitat: food, shelter (cover, water, space. Cover: provides protection from the elements and predators. Food: the energy in food provides metabolic fuel for all processes. Need balance between cover from predation and a need for energy. Because food is so important animals have both physical and behavioral adaptations. Herbivores have longer and more complex digestive systems (i. e. pronghorn antelope) Those with simple stomachs have well developed cecums (i. e. rabbits and beavers) Herbivores have longer and more complex digestive tracts. Carnivores have relatively shorter digestive tracts (i. e. wolverine) Long esophagus with expanded crop: seed storage, milk production. Two sectioned stomach: proventriculus: chemical digestion, gizzard: grinds up food with tough, abrasive lining. Adaptations to limits: when food resources are limited, animals adapt: Food: forest and water provides food (insects, acorns, water primrose) Shelter: they nest in trees in old woodpecker holes.