Biology 364 Animal Physiology Instructor Manuela Gardner Textbook

Biology 364 – Animal Physiology • Instructor: Manuela Gardner • Textbook: Principles of Animal Physiology • Course website (Manuela Gardner): www. zoology. ubc. ca/~gardner

Contact info Manuela Gardner Office: Room 1370, Biological Sciences Bldg. Email: gardner@zoology. ubc. ca Office Hours: Fridays 1200 -1300

Biology 364 – Animal Physiology Respiratory System – uptake of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide Circulatory System –primary internal transport for substances (eg oxygen & nutrients) and other functions Ion and water regulation – deals with ion and water balance, and nitrogen excretion

Grading and assessment Marking Scheme í Problem sets: 30% 1 per section (3 total) These will be representative of questions given on the final exam. íFinal: Open book/notes - 70%

Animal Physiology - definition «“The study of how animals work” – Knut Schmidt-Nielsen «Structure and function of various parts - How these parts work together

Unifying Themes in Physiology (Table 1. 1) • Physiological processes obey physical and chemical laws • Physiological processes are usually regulated – Homeostasis – maintenance of internal constancy • Phenotype is a product of genotype and its interaction with the environment – Genotype – genetic makeup – Phenotype – expression of genotype in morphology, physiology, and behavior – Phenotypic plasticity – single genotype generates more than one phenotypic outcome depending on environmental conditions • Genotype is the product of evolution

Unifying Themes in Physiology (Table 1. 1) • Physiological processes obey physical and chemical laws í Physical properties of a material are linked to function (e. g. , bone) í Chemical laws govern molecular interactions (e. g. , effects of temperature) í Electrical laws describe membrane function, including excitable cells í Body size influences biochemical and physical patterns – allometric scaling

Unifying Themes in Physiology (Table 1. 1) • Physiological processes are usually regulated – Homeostasis – maintenance of internal constancy How do animals deal with variations in their environment?

Physiological Regulation • Conformers • (a) Allow internal conditions to change when faced with variations in external conditions • (b) Internal environment adjusts to reflect external conditions

Physiological Regulation Moyes and Schulte; Figure 1. 4

Physiological Regulation • Regulators • (a) Maintain relatively constant internal conditions regardless of the conditions in the external environment • (b) Keep internal environment within narrow limits

Physiological Regulation - Homeostasis • Maintenance of internal conditions in the face of environmental perturbations • Controlled by feedback loops or reflex control pathways – Negative feedback loops – Positive feedback loops Figure 1. 5

Unifying Themes in Physiology (Table 1. 1) • Phenotype is a product of genotype and its interaction with the environment – Genotype – genetic makeup – Phenotype – morphology, physiology, and behavior – Phenotypic plasticity – single genotype generates more than one phenotype depending on environmental conditions

Phenotypic Plasticity • Can be irreversible or reversible • Irreversible – Polyphenism - developmental plasticity • Reversible – Acclimation - lab – Acclimatization – natural environment

Unifying Themes in Physiology (Table 1. 1) • Genotype is the product of evolution • Adaptation – Change in a population over evolutionary time (i. e. many generations) Trait that confers an increase in reproductive success via natural selection

Physiology and evolution • Physiologists attempt to understand account for diversity of animal body form and strategies that animals use to cope with their environments • Two types of questions • Proximate cause – How? • Ultimate cause – Why?

Biology 364 – Animal Physiology Respiratory System – uptake of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide Circulatory System –primary internal transport for substances (eg oxygen & nutrients) and other functions Ion and water regulation – deals with ion and water balance, and nitrogen excretion