Question

Ecology question 4&5

4 You have just moved from Florida to Alaska and you are having trouble adjusting to this new, colder climate. What is one thing you can do to acclimate to the cold without relying on technology, tools, heat, shelter, or extra clothing? Describe how and why this change might help you acclimate to the colder temperatures. (You cannot go into torpor or hibernation, or migrate back to Florida!)

5. Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians have circulatory systems driven by a pumping heart that transports nutrients, oxygen, and water throughout the body. Plants do not have a pumping heart, yet nutrients and water are transported, even in very large plants like trees. Why is it that plants do not need a pumping heart? What affects the rate at which water is transported through a plant?

Answer 1

1Ans. Our body has a temperature regulation system which is controlled by the hypothalamus. Hypothalamus stimulates pituitary gland to release hormone in colder weather to produce more thyroid stimulating hormone (thyroxin) to increase metabolism and create more heat.

2Ans. Plants have vascular system with its similar to the  which is similar to the blood vessels in animals. However instead of heart to move their fluids root pressure alone is enough to keep fluids moving to all the of the plants extremity's. But in the case of larger plants movement of liquids upward through the xylem tissues is done by what is referred to as cohesion-tension theory. Water molecules are strongly attracted to each other, i.e cohesion. at the same time they are strongly attracted to the rigid walls of the xylem vessels, i.e, adhesion.