CCEA A2 Biology Module 4 HW 1

Homeostasis & Temperature Regulation

Q1. Read through the following passage on homeostasis and then answer the questions.

Homeostasis is the regulation of the internal environment within narrow limits. This gives
the organism a degree of independence from the external environment. The regulation is
carried out by negative and positive feedback mechanisms which when not required are
damped. All living organisms possess some powers of homeostasis but homeostasis is best
developed in birds and mammals.

(a) (i) What do you understand by the term ‘internal environment’? [2]

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(ii) Distinguish negative feedback control from positive feedback control. [2]

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(iii) Give one example of negative feedback control and one example of positive feedback
control in mammals. [2]

Negative feedback control: .........................................................................................................

Positive feedback control: ..........................................................................................................

(iv) What do you understand by the term ‘damping’? [1]

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(b) State one example of homeostatic control in each of the following organisms. [3]

Amoeba:........................................................................................................................................
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Marram grass: ..............................................................................................................................

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CCEA A2 Biology Module 4 HW 1

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Human: .......................................................................................................................................

Q2. The following statements refer to ectothermic and endothermic animals. If a

statement is correct place a tick ( ) in the appropriate box and if it is incorrect
place a cross ( ) in the appropriate box. [5]

Q3. (a) Outline three methods by which mammals may increase heat loss from their
bodies.

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3. ..................................................................................................................................................
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(b) A hibernating mammal, such as a hedgehog, has a large reserve of brown fat. Explain why
this is necessary.
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(c) Suggest why hibernation is a common strategy during adverse conditions.

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Q4. Explain how the following adaptations can help in temperature regulation.

(a) The thick fur coat of an arctic mammal. [2]

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(b) The presence of sudorific (sweat) glands in some mammals. [2]

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CCEA A2 Biology Module 4 HW 1

(c) The thick layer of subcutaneous fat in a marine mammal. [2]

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(d) The presence of arteriole shunts in the blood supply to the skin. [2]

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Q6. The graph below shows the oxygen consumption in arbitary units of a snake
(ectothermic) and a dog (endothermic) at different external temperatures.

Comment on the relationship between external temperature and oxygen consumption in:

(a) the dog.

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CCEA A2 Biology Module 4 HW 1

(b) the snake.

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Q7. The figure shows the range of external temperatures (comfort zone) within which
livestock can make homeostatic adjustments to maintain their own body
temperature with minimal changes to their metabolic rate.

(a) Suggest why it is economically sensible for farmers to maintain the external temperatures
approximately the same as the blood temperatures of their livestock.

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(b) Suggest an explanation for the difference in the comfort zone of sheep and lambs.

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CCEA A2 Biology Module 4 HW 1

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Q8. Humans have sweat glands in order to lose heat by using up latent heat of
vaporisation of water. Elephants, dogs, rats and cactus plants do not have sweat
glands and so must lose heat by alternative methods. For each of the following
organisms describe their main method of losing heat.

(a) Elephants: [2]

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(b)Dogs: [2]
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(c) Rats: [2]
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(d) Cactus: [2]
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CCEA A2 Biology Module 4 HW 1

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Q9. Suggest explanations for the following observations:

(a) In a dehydrated camel the body temperature fluctuates between 34.5oC and 40.5oC but in a
well-watered camel the body temperature only fluctuates between 36oC and 39oC. [5]
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(b) In proportion to body mass, the length and breadth of the ears of the Arizona Jack-rabbit
(a species of hare) are twice as large as the ears of the Arctic hare. [3]
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(c) Modern elephants and rhinocerus species have virtually no hair but their prehistoric
relatives, the mammoth and woolly rhinocerus were covered with thick hair. [3]

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Q10. The diagram shows the temperatures of regions of a human body exposed to a cold
environment.

(a) (i) Which cells of the body are responsible for monitoring body temperature? [2]
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(ii) Which part of the body is responsible for controlling core temperature? [1]
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(b) Explain the significance of the temperature pattern shown. [3]

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(c) Suggest an explanation for each of the following responses:

(i) Upon initial exposure to a cold environment, a person’s face appears pale in colour. [1]

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CCEA A2 Biology Module 4 HW 1

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(ii) Following prolonged exposure to the cold a person’s face becomes ruddy i.e. they develop
a red-faced complexion. [1]
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Q11. By reference to the physiological mechanisms involved give an explanation for

each of the following:

(a) eating an ice cream on a hot day may actually cause the skin temperature to rise. [5]
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(b) on awaking from hibernation a hedgehog’s reduced temperature rises back to normal very
quickly (within half an hour); [5]
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(c) crocodiles tend to bask in the sun with their mouths gaping open. [4]
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Q12. Seals, whales and polar bears characteristically develop thick layers of blubber in
their superficial tissues. Polar bears, in addition, also have a very thick coat of
white hair. The graph below shows the temperature of the surface layers of a seal
when swimming in icy waters (around 0 – 40oC).

(a) (i) Explain the data shown in the graph. [4]

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CCEA A2 Biology Module 4 HW 1

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(ii) How would the seal lose heat if its core temperature became too high? [4]
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(b) Explain why polar bears have a thick coat of white fur as well as a layer of blubber. [4]
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