Surviving the Cold: Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes Define the terms cold tolerance and cold adaptation and explain the physiological differences between them. Compare some of the thermoregulation strategies adopted by different organisms. Outline how biological adaptation takes place in natural environments using reindeer as an example. Explain how feedback and feedforward regulation takes place, using appropriate biological examples. Describe a range of structural and physiological adaptations to survival in cold environments. Provide explanations for the use of torpor and hibernation in different groups of animals. Explain how study of both natural and experimental conditions can inform how species adapt to changing environmental temperatures. Outline how counter-current heat exchange systems work in cold conditions and be able to apply this knowledge to different situations. Describe nutrient flux throughout an organism and suggest ways in which BMR can be measured both directly and indirectly. Describe some different feeding strategies to obtain and conserve energy, including examples of trophic match–mismatch studies.