Birds and mammals being homeothermic (capable of maintaining constant body temperature) have evolved a mechanism to regulate their metabolic rate. An inverse relationship is observed between metabolic rate and body weight from the plot of the rate of oxygen consumption versus body weight of different mammals. On the other hand, there is a direct proportional relationship between metabolic rate and surface area to volume ratio. From the given figure it is evident that more internal heat per gram of body weight is generated by shrew and more heat is lost to the environment than the horse. Thus maintenance of constant body temperature is more difficult for small animals in cold weather. Why do penguin chicks have to huddle together in cold environment?
Birds and mammals being homeothermic (capable of maintaining constant body temperature) have evolved a mechanism to regulate their metabolic rate. An inverse relationship is observed between metabolic rate and body weight from the plot of the rate of oxygen consumption versus body weight of different mammals. On the other hand, there is a direct proportional relationship between metabolic rate and surface area to volume ratio. From the given figure it is evident that more internal heat per gram of body weight is generated by shrew and more heat is lost to the environment than the horse. Thus maintenance of constant body temperature is more difficult for small animals in cold weather. Why do penguin chicks have to huddle together in cold environment?
The correct option is A Huddling decreases the effective surface area-to-volume ratio and decreases the loss of body heat.
Chicks have a comparatively high surface area-to-volume ratio, which makes them lose body heat very fast. In colder temperatures, chicks are often seen huddling together as it decreases the effective surface area-to-volume ratio which ultimately reduces the amount of heat being lost from their bodies.So, the correct answer is 'Huddling decreases the effective surface area-to-volume ratio and decreases the loss of body heat.'
Chicks have a comparatively high surface area-to-volume ratio, which makes them lose body heat very fast. In colder temperatures, chicks are often seen huddling together as it decreases the effective surface area-to-volume ratio which ultimately reduces the amount of heat being lost from their bodies.
