Coping with Environmental Variation: Temperature and Water

The physical environment influences an organism’s ecological success in two ways: Availability of energy and resources—impacts growth and reproduction. Extreme conditions can exceed tolerance limits and impact survival. Energy supply can influence an organism’s ability to tolerate environmental extremes. The actual geographic distribution of a species is often lower than potential distribution due to other…

Thermoregulation

Thermoregulation is the maintenance of body temperature within a range that enables cells to function efficiently. Mammals, including humans, are endotherms, able to maintain a constant body temperature regardless of our surroundings. The hypothalamus acts as your body’s “thermostat”, detecting changes in body temperature and sending out messages to help restore the normal body temperature.…