Temperature Relations

Chapter 4

1
 Outline
• Microclimates
• Temperature and Performance of organisms
• Body Temperature Regulations
• Surviving extreme Temperature

2
 Microclimates
• Macroclimate: Large scale weather variation.
• Microclimate: Small scale weather variation,
usually measured over shorter time period.
 Altitude

 Higher altitude - lower temperature.

 Aspect

 Offers contrasting environments.

 Vegetation

 Ecologically important microclimates.

3
 Microclimates
• Ground Color
 Darker colors absorb more visible light.

• Boulders / Burrows
 Create shaded, cooler environments.

4
 Temperature and Animal Performance
• Higher temperatures tend to speed up the
effect of enzyme activity, while lower
temperatures decrease the rate of an
enzyme reaction

5
 Temperature and Microbial Activity
• Morita studied the effect of temperature on
population growth among psychrophilic
marine bacteria around Antarctica.
o
 Grew fastest at 4 C.

 Some growth recorded in temperatures as

cold as - 5.5o C.
• Some thermophilic microbes have been
found to grow best in temperatures as hot as
110o C.

6
Psychrophilic marine bacteria

Psychrophilic microorganisms are

capable of growth and reproduction at low
temperatures. They are present in marine
environments, which occupy slightly more
than 70% of Earth's surface, especially in
the Arctic, Antarctica, and deep seas at
temperatures lower than 15°C.

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Thermophilic bacteria

8
 Body Temperature Regulation
• Ectothermss
 Rely mainly on external energy sources.

9
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Body temperature regulations

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 Surviving Extreme Temperatures
• Inactivity
 Seek shelter during extreme periods.

• Reducing Metabolic Rate

 Hummingbirds enter a state of torpor

when food is scarce and night temps are

extreme.
 Hibernation - Winter

 Estivation - Summer

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