Ectotherms - Advantages and disadvantages table in A Level and IB Biology

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Created by: Sophie
Created on: 06-01-13 12:24

Ectotherms - An organism that relies on external sources of heat to regulate its body temperature

Advantages

They use less of their food in respiration
They need to find less food and may be able to survive for long periods of time without eating
A greater proportion of the energy obtained from food can be used for growth.

Disadvantages

They are less active in cooler temperatures and have to warm up in the morning sun before they are more active. This puts them at risk from predators.
They are not capable of activity during the winter as they can't warm up enough. They have to have sufficient stores of energy to survive over winter without eating.
They are unable to increase respiration rates to generate internal heat.

Evaluation

The body temperature of a ectotherm fluctuates with external temperatures but thay can successfully regulate their body temperature in all but extreme conditions.

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