Article Review on Extreme cold hardiness in ectotherms
The article “Extreme cold hardiness in ectotherms” by Jon Costanzo, explains how ectotherms withstand extreme cold environment through freeze avoidance and tolerance. According to the article, ectotherm’s exposure to subzero temperature is risky and may cause death or irreparable injury. This is because extremely low temperatures impair the cellular functions and freezing of tissues. To protect themselves from the extreme temperatures, the article explains that ectotherms avoid cold climate by migrating to warmer climes. The terrestrial turtles and toads exhibit this behavior. The majority of the toads excavate the ground and shelter in soil columns below the reach of the frost. Woodland salamanders and various snakes, follow root channels and abandoned rodent burrows to underground lairs to avoid the extreme weather condition. However, some are trapped by the frost and encounter the subzero cold.
According to the article, the hibernaculum used by the ectotherms conceals them from potential predators, prevents excessive desiccation, and allows gaseous exchange. In a different approach, ectotherms avoid nucleation by accumulating cryoprotectants before the winter season. The cryoprotectants are a group of concentrated compounds that depress the freezing protein of the animals. This biological adaptation prevents the fluids in the ectotherms from freezing. However, the article outlines a few arthropods that are tolerant to freezing and have various adaptations that help them to survive under extreme temperatures. Despite the process of adaptation, freeze tolerance and avoidance help ectotherms to survive in extreme climatic conditions.
The article provides scientific arguments that support the behavior of the ectotherms in winter. It explains the behavior of the ectotherms in the face of extreme weather conditions and its implications in their bodies. Scientific observations and examples support each of the options.
References
Forseth, I. (2020). Extreme Cold Hardiness in Ectotherms | Learn Science at Scitable. Nature.com. Retrieved 24 March 2020, from https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/extreme-cold-hardiness-in-ectotherms-24286275/.