The weather is getting much warmer after a cold winter. What is a common physical
response with certain mammals?
Mammals will grow bigger in the heat.
Mammals will shed much of their fur or hair to help them cool off and maintain
their body temperature.
Mammals will move closer to water and beaches to stay cool.
Mammals will depend on other animals or humans to help keep them cool.
Question
Explanation:
A core temperature below the set point creates a negative load error, resulting in heat gain (shivering, vasoconstriction of the skin) being initiated. A core temperature above the set point creates a positive load error, leading to heat loss effectors (skin vasodilatation, sweating) being turned on. Animals use one of three coping mechanisms to deal with cold, snow, and food shortages. Other adaptations include the squirrel’s propensity to store nuts and seeds, which provide them with an adequate store of food during the winter. Hibernate: Among the more curious ways animals survive the winter is hibernation. The thermoneutral ambient temperature for naked and resting humans is ca. 27 degrees C. Exposure to cold stimulates cold receptors of the skin which causes cold thermal sensations and stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic stimulation causes vasoconstriction in the skin, arms, and legs.