Question

Discuss how physiology plays a role in the ecological challenges organisms have living in aquatic terrestrial and variable environments. Give examples.

Answer 1

Physiology plays a very critical role in aiding acclimatization of the organisms to their environment and combat the ecological challenges. One such example can be understood by the fact that physiological adaptations of the renal system have played significant role in maintaining the water content of organisms depending upon their nature of medium. Depending upon the nature of ecology, i.e. aquatic/sea water, terrestrial, arboreal or mixed, there are different features of renal system which help in acclimatization.

The animals residing in aquatic systems have developed ammoniotelic renal system which excretes largely ammonia out of their body due to presence of large amount of water in the medium. Similarly, land animals, particularly those residing at dry places, are uricotelic in nature and excrete large amount of uric acids to conserve water in their body. Finally, animals residing in mixed temperature regions are ureotelic in nature and have moderate capacity to conserve water.

Thus, with these adaptive changes, it can be seen that physiology plays a very crucial part in maintaining homeostasis and adapting to the ecological challenges.