Warm Blooded Animals (homeotherms) Dominate the Terrestrial Environment, but Cold Blooded Animals (poikilotherms) Are Most Abundant in Aquatic Environment. Give the Differences Between Two Environments Speculate on Why This is so

What is Poikilotherm & Homeotherm ?Poikilotherm:

Relatively variable body temperature. Get heat from the environment hence they are called ectothermal animals. E.g. most fishes, invertebrate amphibians and reptiles.Homeotherm: Relatively constant body temperature. Can regulate their own body temperature. Get heat from the body. E.g. Birds, mammals

Poikilothermy & HomeothermyHomeothermy:The condition in which the organisms body temperature remains more or less constant over a range of environmental temperature.Poikilothermy:The condition in which the organisms body temperature changes with change in environmental temperature.

Environment for Poikilotherm:

Aquatic environments are much more stable than terrestrial environments.Water gain or loses heat slowly.Water conduct heat poorly.There occurs a slight change in environment and body temperature of aquatic organisms fluctuates slowly with that change of water.Aquatic environments are rich in nutrients which support more live than equivalent terrestrial ecosystems.

Environment for Homeotherm:

Terrestrial environment cannot fluctuate the temperature which is suitable for homeotherm.Most of the Homeotherm body is well insulated by feather or fur or lear of fat This feather or fur a lear of stagnant air next to the body & reduce heat loss from underline skin or heat gain from environment. In aquatic environment oxygen is sometimes a limiting factor an aquatic habitats but this is seldom the case in terrestrial habitats. Due to the temperature, the abundance of oxygen is variable in water. So Homeotherm try to find their suitable place in terrestrial environment.Metabolic rate in homeotherm has no effect on body temperature, this is why most of the homeotherm find the terrestrial environment as their suitable place for living.In most terrestrial environments there is hardly ever a a shortage of light which help homeotherm for seeking food, avoid predator & other functions.

Conclusion:From the above discussion we found that the main difference between aquatic environment & terrestrial environment for poikilotherm & homeotherm is temperature fluctuation which is constant in terrestrial environment but fluctuate widely in aquatic environment.

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