Animal Ecological Physiology MCQS January 8, 2026March 27, 2024 by u930973931_answers 20 min Score: 0 Attempted: 0/20 Subscribe 1. Which of the following best describes physiological ecology? (A) Study of the interaction between animals and their physical environment (B) Study of the interaction between animals and other organisms (C) Study of the cellular processes within animals (D) Study of animal behavior in response to environmental stimuli 2. What is the term for the study of how animals maintain homeostasis in response to changes in their environment? (A) Ecological physiology (B) Environmental physiology (C) Adaptation (D) Thermoregulation 3. Which of the following is NOT a primary factor affecting an animal’s physiological ecology? (A) Temperature (B) Humidity (C) Predation (D) Atmospheric pressure 4. How do animals regulate their internal temperature in response to changes in the external environment? (A) Through physiological adaptations (B) Through hibernation (C) Through behavioral responses (D) Through metabolic rate adjustments 5. Which physiological process is responsible for the removal of metabolic waste products from an animal’s body? (A) Respiration (B) Circulation (C) Digestion (D) Excretion 6. What is the primary function of an animal’s circulatory system? (A) Nutrient absorption (B) Oxygen transport (C) Waste removal (D) Hormone secretion 7. In which type of habitat would you expect to find animals with adaptations for efficient water conservation? (A) Rainforest (B) Desert (C) Tundra (D) Grassland 8. What physiological adaptation allows diving mammals to conserve oxygen while submerged? (A) Increased heart rate (B) Increased lung capacity (C) Decreased metabolic rate (D) Decreased blood flow to non-essential organs 9. Which hormone is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels in animals? (A) Cortisol (B) Glucagon (C) Insulin (D) Thyroxine 10. What is the term for the process by which animals convert food into energy for cellular functions? (A) Metabolism (B) Absorption (C) Respiration (D) Digestion 11. Which of the following is NOT a method of heat exchange used by animals to regulate body temperature? (A) Convection (B) Conduction (C) Insulation (D) Osmoregulation 12. Which of the following is an example of a behavioral adaptation to extreme temperatures? (A) Seeking shade (B) Shivering (C) Sweating (D) Vasodilation 13. Which organ system is primarily responsible for the regulation of water and electrolyte balance in animals? (A) Respiratory system (B) Digestive system (C) Endocrine system (D) Excretory system 14. What is the primary function of brown adipose tissue in mammals? (A) Energy storage (B) Thermogenesis (C) Insulation (D) Oxygen transport 15. Which of the following is NOT a mechanism by which animals conserve water? (A) Urine concentration (B) Behavioral adaptations (C) Decreased respiratory rate (D) Water reabsorption in the kidneys 16. Which hormone is responsible for regulating water balance in the body by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys? (A) Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) (B) Aldosterone (C) Renin (D) Thyroxine 17. Which of the following animals is most likely to employ countercurrent heat exchange to conserve body heat? (A) Penguin (B) Lizard (C) Elephant (D) Koala 18. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an ectothermic animal? (A) Reliance on external sources of heat (B) Fluctuating body temperature (C) High metabolic rate (D) Limited ability to regulate body temperature internally 19. Which physiological adaptation allows camels to survive in arid environments with limited water? (A) Large body size (B) Efficient sweating mechanism (C) Ability to produce concentrated urine (D) Insulating fur coat 20. Which of the following is NOT a mechanism by which animals regulate salt balance in their bodies? (A) Salt excretion through specialized glands (B) Salt absorption in the digestive system (C) Salt storage in specialized organs (D) Salt secretion through the skin