WFC 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Hypothermia, Torpor

• School: UC-Davis
• Department: Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology
• Course: WFC 111
• Professor: Eadie John

Document Summary

Blue line is the rate at which proteins denature. Metabolism measured by 02 consumption (per unit of body weight) Birds are much higher than anyone else. Allows exploitation of greater range of habitats. Active in early morning, at high altitude and in winter. Regulation of heat loss and heat gain. Increased speed of transmission of nerve impulses. Increased speed and endurance of muscle contraction. Large birds require more energy in absolute terms (total), but . Large birds require require relatively less energy per unit body weight. Because of the greater surface area: volume ratio of smaller birds. Large birds have difficulty getting rid of heat. Can be important source of heat when ambient temperature is low. Can be a problem when ambient temperature is high. Rate of heat loss (h) is a function of: Difference between body temperature (tb) and ambient temperature (ta) Small birds, with greater surface area to volume ratio, have greatest problem.