Physiological Ecology
Midterm Exam
Course Introduction
Physiological Ecology explores how the physiological processes of organisms enable them to interact with, adapt to, and survive within their environments. This course examines key topics including energy acquisition and use, water and temperature regulation, gas exchange, and stress physiology, integrating them with ecological concepts such as adaptation, niche differentiation, and responses to environmental variability. With a focus on animals and plants, students will investigate how physiological mechanisms set limits on species distribution, influence life history strategies, and shape ecological interactions at individual, population, and ecosystem levels.
Recommended Textbook
Principles of Animal Physiology 3rd Edition by Christopher
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Page 2
D. Moyes
Chapter 1: Introduction to Physiological Principles
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Sample Questions
Q1) The phenotypic expression of a genotype can be altered by
A)developmental processes.
B)environmental conditions.
C)physiological conditions.
D)all of the above
Answer: D
Q2) Organisms that are closely related to each other will
A)share some features with all other organisms.
B)share some features only with organisms from this same group.
C)have no features in common with any other organism.
D)both A and B
Answer: D
Q3) The scaling coefficient for metabolic rate should be 2/3 is based on
A)relationships between surface area and volume.
B)relationships between body mass and volume.
C)relationships between volume and metabolism.
D)relationships between metabolism and activity of the animal.
Answer: A
Q4) Factors that generate opposite effects on a pathway are termed __________.
Answer: antagonistic controls
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Chapter 2: Physiological Evolution of Animals
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following statements is true with respect to myosin?
A)Plants,fungi,and animals share the same myosin families.
B)Myosin is found in all prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
C)Different classes of myosins are distinguished by differences in structural organization and amino acid sequence.
D)Cardiac -myosin allows for greater contractile efficiency.
Answer: C
Q2) We often hear the terms protists,protozoans,and metazoans;briefly explain the relationship among them.
Answer: When we think about the origin of animals,we often think of protists.Protists are single-celled,eukaryotic organisms that possess a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles.Protists are a very diverse group of distantly-related organisms,and hence assigned to more than 50 phyla.Some protists are animal-like and mobile,and because locomotion was considered a unique trait of animals,animal-like protists were once considered to be the ancestors of animals and were referred to as protozoans.Currently,the term protozoan has no meaningful evolutionary basis.The term metazoan was originally created to differentiate single-celled protozoans from multicellular animals."Metazoan" and "animal" are often used synonymously.
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Chapter 3: Chemistry, biochemistry, and Cell Physiology
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following polysaccharides performs a structural role?
A)amylose
B)glycogen
C)chitin
D)amylopectin
Answer: C
Q2) When the potential of a cell membrane becomes less negative,or gains more positive charges,the term __________ is applied.
Answer: depolarized
Q3) The cytoskeleton is composed of a variety of fibers,including A)macrotubules.
B)large filaments.
C)microfilaments.
D)all of the above
Answer: C
Q4) The energy of movement is termed __________ energy.
Answer: kinetic
Q5) Winding DNA around __________ serves two major purposes: protection and compression.
Answer: histones
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Chapter 4: Cell Signaling and Endocrine Regulation
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Sample Questions
Q1) Under stressful or dangerous situations,organisms enter into the "flight-or-fight" response.This response has both neural and endocrine components.Discuss the functions of each component and how they interact with each other.
Q2) Which of the following is different between stimulatory and inhibitory G proteins in the cyclic AMP pathway?
A) subunit
B) subunit
C) subunit
D)all of the above
Q3) Antagonists are compounds that
A)prevent synthesis of new receptors.
B)prevent synthesis of hormones.
C)bind to a receptor,activating it.
D)bind to a receptor,but do not activate it.
Q4) Once a ligand binds to a receptor-enzyme,
A)the catalytic domain interacts with extracellular components.
B)the catalytic domain interacts with intracellular components.
C)the ligand-binding domain is phosphorylated.
D)the ligand-binding domain is dephosphorylated.
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Chapter 5: Neuron Structure and Function
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Sample Questions
Q1) Describe the differences between electrical and chemical synapses in terms of mechanisms and functional characteristics of transmission.
Q2) Which of the following combinations of voltage-gated channel densities would most easily allow an action potential to be generated?
A)high density of K ,low density of Na
B)low density of K ,high density of Na
C)high density of K and Na
D)low density of K and Na
Q3) Squid benefit from having axons of multiple sizes that innervate their muscle fibers in the mantle because
A)squid need larger diameter axons to innervate larger groups of fibers.
B)the larger diameter axons innervate fibers that are farther away because the signals are conducted more rapidly through them.
C)smaller fibers are not energetically efficient.
D)larger fibers generate larger action potentials,which allows for more neurotransmitter release.
Q4) __________ receptors bind both epinephrine and norepinephrine.
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Chapter 6: Cellular Movement and Muscles
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Sample Questions
Q1) Smooth and striated muscle share many common features,including
A)organization of filaments into sarcomeres.
B)use of actin and myosin in contraction.
C)a ratio of 2:1 thin to thick filaments.
D)dependence on T-tubules for spread of depolarization.
Q2) In smooth muscle,the actin is bound by __________,a functional parallel to troponin C because it prevents myosin from binding actin.
Q3) Which of the following pumps is specifically used to return Ca² to the sarcoplasmic reticulum?
A)Ca² ATPase
B)NaCaX
C)parvalbumin
D)SERCA
Q4) Muscle fiber types can be changed in response to A)activity levels.
B)temperature.
C)thyroid hormone levels.
D)all of the above
Q5) Discuss some of the important factors responsible for the diversity of muscle types.
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Chapter 7: Sensory Systems
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Sample Questions
Q1) The compound called __________ can stimulate warm-sensitive neurons.
Q2) Which of the following statements is inaccurate with respect to the sensory system of katydids?
A)Katydids' ears are located in the bend on their front legs.
B)Katydids have excellent hearing.
C)Katydids' hearing is used to identify mating calls of members of their own species.
D)Katydids cannot detect any echolocation sounds made by different species,such as bats.
Q3) The __________ law describes the logarithmic relationship between stimulus magnitude and perceived stimulus intensity.
Q4) Some species of fish are able to produce electrical discharges.These fish
A)produce discharges continuously from their electric organ.
B)produce only weak discharges of approximately 1 volt.
C)have a specialized electric organ of highly derived nerve and muscle cells known as electrocytes.
D)are known as strongly electric fish.
Q5) In carp,the inner ear is connected to the swim bladder by a series of bones called __________.
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Chapter 8: Functional Organization of Nervous Systems
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Q1) The somatosensory cortex and primary motor cortex are organized __________.That is,each part of the cortex corresponds to the specific part of the body that it governs.
Q2) The limbic system is associated with A)emotion.
B)motivation.
C)decision-making.
D)all of the above
Q3) The tendency to reduce the magnitude of a response following repeated stimulation is called __________.
Q4) Among other things,the hindbrain is responsible for A)regulation of involuntary behaviors such as breathing. B)coordination of visual and auditory information.
C)regulation of eating and reproduction.
D)conversion of short-term memories into long-term memories.
Q5) Most sympathetic pathways originate in the __________ regions of the CNS.
A)thoracic and lumbar
B)hindbrain and sacral
C)cranial
D)postganglionic
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Chapter 9: Circulatory Systems
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Sample Questions
Q1) How do substances move across capillaries?
A)diffusion
B)through pores
C)transcytosis
D)all of the above
Q2) The end-diastolic volume is
A) the maximum volume of blood in the ventricle.
B) the maximum volume of blood in the atrium.
C) the minimum volume of blood in the ventricle.
D) the minimum volume of blood in the atrium.
Q3) During the flight or fight response,sympathetic pathways cause arterioles to contract.If this is true,how is it possible to increase blood flow to areas that require additional oxygen,such as skeletal muscle?
Q4) The law of bulk flow quantifies the relationship between flow,pressure,and
Q5) How do cardiomyocytes communicate with one another?
A)neurotransmitters
B)gap junctions
C)synapses
D)tight junctions
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Chapter 10: Immune Systems
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Q1) When the _______________ binds to its pathogen-associated molecular pattern,the cell triggers a signal transduction pathway.
Q2) ______________ cells play an important role in allergic reactions.
Q3) Invertebrates such as grasshoppers have
A)both innate and adaptive immune systems.
B)both innate and adaptive immune systems,but the adaptive system is more important.
C)only an innate immune system.
D)only an adaptive immune system.
Q4) T cells that cause other cells to respond are referred to as ________________.
Q5) Which of the following statements is correct?
A)From an evolutionary perspective,the adaptive immune system is older than the innate immune system.
B)Viruses contain a cell wall composed of B-glucans.
C)Phagocytic cells secrete cytotoxic compounds and initiate apoptosis.
D)Once animals detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns,an immune response is initiated.
Q6) Malaria is caused by a parasite belonging to the genus ________________.
Q7) Describe the process of B-cell activation.
Page 12
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Chapter 11: Respiratory Systems
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Sample Questions
Q1) Blood flow through the gills of an elasmobranch is arranged in a __________ fashion.
A)countercurrent B)concurrent
C)crosscurrent D)convection
Q2) Generally,reptiles fill their lungs through A)aspiration.
B)force of the buccal pump.
C)pressure changes during body movement.
D)passive air entry.
Q3) Blood CO content is carried in the form of all of the following,EXCEPT A)dissolved CO . B)bicarbonate.
C)carbaminohemoglobin. D)carbonate.
Q4) The symptoms of nitrogen narcosis resemble symptoms of _________________.
Q5) Describe the three phases of discontinuous ventilation in insects and give two possible reasons for its adaptive significance.
Q6) Hemocyanins do not contain iron,but instead contain __________.
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Chapter 12: Locomotion
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Sample Questions
Q1) During peristaltic burrowing in earthworms,when the __________ muscles contract,the segment extends or lengthens.
Q2) __________ is the element of the physical environment that has the greatest consequences for locomotor strategies.
A)Gravity
B)Viscosity
C)Resistance
D)Turbulence
Q3) The movement of a limb bending at a joint is called flexion,and straightening is called __________.
Q4) True flight first arose in A)bats.
B)birds.
C)insects.
D)reptiles.
Q5) How does the caudal fin of a fish generate thrust?
Q6) The forces that oppose the forward movement of an object through a liquid are collectively referred to as __________.
Q7) How does the mitochondrial content vary among muscle types and species?
Page 14
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Chapter 13: Ion and Water Balance
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Sample Questions
Q1) Three main classes of diuretic hormones have been identified in insects.Which of the following is NOT one of those classes?
A)CRF-related diuretic hormones
B)insect myokinins
C)corticotrophin-releasing factors
D)cardioacceleratory peptides
Q2) Perturbing solutes include all of the following EXCEPT A)Na .
B)K .
C)charged amino acids.
D)trehalose.
Q3) In the kidney,the capacity for solute recovery is known as the __________.
Q4) Animals that can tolerate only a narrow range of external osmolarity are described as __________.
Q5) Describe three specific reasons why a change in cell volume can be problematic
Q6) Most solute and water reabsorption in the nephron happens at the A)Bowman's capsule.
B)proximal tubule.
C)loop of Henle.
D)distal tubule.
Page 15
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Chapter 14: Digestion and Energy Metabolism
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Sample Questions
Q1) Describe the events of the trypsinogen cascade.
Q2) Which one of the following vitamins is fat soluble,can be stored,and has the potential to be toxic?
A)vitamin A
B)niacin (B )
C)riboflavin (B )
D)vitamin C
Q3) Explain how the molecular structure of bile salts permits them to function as emulsifiers.
Q4) Describe the process of the enzymatic digestion of carbohydrates.
Q5) A two-way gut system (i.e. ,gastrovascular cavity)is a characteristic of A)platyhelminths.
B)annelids.
C)arthropods.
D)molluscs.
Q6) Whales house chitinolytic bacteria in their A)esophagus
B)crop
C)ceca
D)stomach
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Chapter 15: Thermal Physiology
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Sample Questions
Q1) The mechanism by which bumblebees and certain moths generate preflight heat in thoracic muscles involves
A)a metabolic futile cycle in carbohydrate metabolism
B)the simultaneous contraction of antagonistic flight muscles.
C)rapid wing movement that avoids lift.
D)all of the above
Q2) To date,__________ classes of antifreeze proteins have been identified.
A)2
B)3
C)4
D)5
Q3) From among the following list of animals,which would lose heat at the fastest rate per unit mass?
A)bear
B)mouse
C)rabbit
D)wolf
Q4) What are the four mechanisms by which cells can remodel membranes to preserve fluidity?
Q5) __________ is the ability to generate and maintain elevated body temperatures.
Page 17
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Chapter 16: Reproductive Physiology
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Sample Questions
Q1) The activity levels of juvenile hormones can be reduced by A)allatostatins.
B)allatotropins.
C)JH esterase.
D)all of the above
Q2) The phenomenon in which some female coral reef fish spontaneously transform into males if the dominant male is removed is known as A)arrhenotoky.
B)protandry.
C)protogyny.
D)thelytoky.
Q3) The hormone that controls milk production in mammals is A)estrogen.
B)oxytocin.
C)prolactin.
D)prostaglandin.
Q4) What is the proposed relationship between fibrinogen and casein?
Q5) In most animals,the genotype of the organisms determines their sex.What is the relationship between sex determination and the environment?
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