In nature, an ectothermic animal maintains a constant body temperature on a cold day by
A) basking in a sunny location.
B) increasing its rate of metabolism without basking.
C) eating more food, which creates heat as it's burned for energy.
D) shivering.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ectothermic animals rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature. Basking in a sunny location provides them with the necessary warmth to maintain a constant body temperature on a cold day. Option B is incorrect as increasing the rate of metabolism would require the animal to expend more energy without necessarily providing the required warmth. Option C is also incorrect as the heat generated by food metabolism is insufficient to maintain body temperature on a cold day. Option D is irrelevant as shivering is a mechanism used by endothermic animals to generate heat, not ectothermic animals.

In Nature, an Ectothermic Animal Maintains a Constant Body Temperature