Biology 2483A Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Wood Frog, Ectotherm, Energy Economics
24 Nov 2017
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Its potential geographical distribution is constrained by: (a) the physical environment (b) its physiological tolerance limit and extreme environmental conditions. Its actual distribution limit is constrained by: (a) disturbance (wind, fires, volcanoes, climate change!) (b) biological factors (ability to disperse, competition between species) Acclimation physiological changes, nothing genetic; it is not adaptation. Is short-term (i. e. over weeks) and reversible: ecologists will say it happens in the natural world, others say acclimatization happen in the lab plant physiologists say the same. Ecotypes locally adapted populations within a species; still not evolution but if isolated, it can become a new species: example: same species feeds on different leaves because of what"s locally accessible. Reduce solar radiation, increase convection, increase conduction, latent heat of vaporization (sweating if off) (b) energy balance by plants. Alter solar radiation (leaf surface area, small, large and modified like cactus) Example: skunk cabbage purple color increase albedo, also can metabolize and make own heat (rare) and melt snow.
