Chapter 7: Problem 5

How might you expect the average size of mammal species to vary from the tropics to the polar regions? Why?

Short Answer

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Answer: The average size of mammal species tends to be smaller in the tropics and larger in the polar regions. This variation is primarily due to the differences in temperature, metabolism, and resource availability between the two regions. Warmer temperatures in the tropics allow for smaller mammals with higher metabolic rates, while colder temperatures in the polar regions favor larger mammals that can conserve heat more efficiently. Furthermore, the tropics have a richer biodiversity and resource availability that support smaller mammals, whereas the limited resources in the polar regions require mammals to accumulate fat reserves, leading to an increase in body size.

Step by step solution

To answer this question, we first need to understand that mammal species can have different sizes depending on the environmental conditions they live in. The tropics and polar regions have distinct climate characteristics, which in turn, affect the size of mammal species. #Step 2: Discussing the differences in temperature between the tropics and the polar regions#

One crucial factor affecting the average size of mammal species is temperature. The tropics have a warm climate, with temperatures mostly remaining constant throughout the year. On the other hand, the polar regions experience extremely cold temperatures, causing these environments to be challenging for mammals. #Step 3: Applying the Bergmann's Rule#

Bergmann's Rule states that, within a species or a group of closely related species, the body size of an animal tends to be larger in colder environments and smaller in warmer environments. This rule mainly relates to the fact that larger animals have a lower surface area-to-volume ratio, which allows them to conserve heat better in cold environments. #Step 4: Explaining reasons for smaller mammals in tropics#

In the tropics, smaller mammals can benefit from high metabolic rates, which enable them to dissipate heat faster. Additionally, the tropics are rich in biodiversity and resources, which can support a larger number of smaller mammals and allow for greater specialization in various ecological functions. #Step 5: Explaining reasons for larger mammals in polar regions#

In the polar regions, larger mammal species can better tolerate harsh climatic conditions due to their lower surface area-to-volume ratio, making them more efficient at conserving heat. Also, the limited resources and shorter growing seasons in these regions require the mammals to accumulate fat reserves to survive during harsh winters, leading to an increase in body size. #Conclusion: Average size of mammal species variation from tropics to polar regions#

Based on these factors, we can expect the average size of mammal species to be smaller in the tropics and larger in the polar regions. This size difference is a result of various factors, including temperature, metabolism, and resource availability, which affect mammals differently depending on their region.

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How might you expect the average size of mammal species to vary from the tropics to the polar regions? Why?

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