Zoology

Vertebrate Ecophysiology

Vertebrate Ecophysiology

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  • About the Editor
    • A fascinating introduction to the study of ecophysiology.
    • Takes a fundamental, biophysical approach toward animal physiology.
    • Provides comprehensive coverage of the integrative role of hormones.

Ecophysiology, or physiological ecology, is a biological discipline that studies the adaptation of an organism's
physiology to environmental conditions. It is closely related to comparative physiology and evolutionary physiology. The study of physiological ecology begins with an understanding of the in uence of ambient temperatures. Temperature is one of the most ecologically signi cant factors, and also one of the most relevant in the face of global climatic change. Organisms have evolved a multitude of mechanisms for regulating the temperature of their bodies in order to  ourish in their particular environment. A high metabolic rate helps supply heat. An e cient circulatory system conducts and distributes heat around the body. Hibernation enables animals to survive long periods of cold. Water availability is another major focus in physiological ecology. The bodies of all organisms contain water, and organisms in all environments expend energy to maintain their internal pool of
water and dissolved substrates. Water availability is particularly critical for desert dwelling organisms, and many ecologists studying the importance of water in biological systems focus their research on desert species.