Exothermic Animal Advantages in Certain Habitats

[antiflag403]

Hey guys and gals,
Just wondering if you could tell me wether or not their are any environments that give exothermic animals an advantage over endothermic ones. I was thinking that one with a relatively constant annual temperature (ie-desert, underwater) might suit this type of animal well. I don't see how this would be an advantage over enothermic animals however. If their is such an environment, what makes it more beneficial to exotherms over endotherms.
Thanks a lot!

 

[pattylou]

The main problem with being an endotherm, as I understand it, is that we don't handle heat as well (I think we generate heat internally so in a warmer environment would be hotter than otherwise.) I would expect that warmer temperatures in general are tolerated better by exotherms.

It's not really my area though.

 

[Rade]

Hey guys and gals,
Just wondering if you could tell me wether or not their are any environments that give exothermic animals an advantage over endothermic ones. I was thinking that one with a relatively constant annual temperature (ie-desert, underwater) might suit this type of animal well. I don't see how this would be an advantage over enothermic animals however. If their is such an environment, what makes it more beneficial to exotherms over endotherms.
Thanks a lot!

Consider a perennial flowing cold water spring environment--how many "endothermic" species do we find in relation to "exothermic" -- the answer is very few. The "exothermic" vertebrates adapted to cold water springs (e.g., fish, amphibians, reptiles) gain a significant thermal regulatory advantange over "endotherms" that must maintain on a daily basis a relatively higher body temperature than provided by the water environment. So, if you want to study an ecosystem where exotherms rule, study cold water springs.

 

[pattylou]

I may have had my terms backwards.