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In the polar regions, small-sized animals are rare. What is the reason behind this?
- a)Small animals have less fur than largesized animals.
- b)The lack of vegetation in the polar regions is a challenge as small animals are primarily herbivorous.
- c)Small sized animals easily fall prey to their larger counterparts and thus their population cannot flourish.
- d)Small-sized animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume and thus they tend to lose heat very fast.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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Verified Answer
In the polar regions, small-sized animals are rare. What is the reaso...
- An overwhelming majority of animals and nearly all plants cannot maintain a constant internal environment. Their body temperature changes with the ambient temperature. In aquatic animals, the osmotic concentration of the body fluids changes with that of the ambient water osmotic concentration.
- These animals and plants are simply conformers. Thermoregulation is energetically expensive for many organisms. This is particularly true for small animals like shrews and hummingbirds. Heat loss or heat gain is a function of surface area. Since small animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume, they tend to lose body heat very fast when it is cold outside; then they have to expend much energy to generate body heat through metabolism. This is the main reason why very small animals are rarely found in polar regions. Hence option (d) is the correct answer.
- Allen's rule, an ecogeographical rule, states that significant differences exist in the size of limbs and other external organs of animals, even within the same species, depending on the geographical region in which they live. Animals living in colder regions of the world, for instance, have shorter limbs than those living in warmer regions as an adaptation to control the dissipation of heat. A smaller body surface area helps animals in colder regions stay warm by slowing down the loss of body heat. · During the course of evolution, the costs and benefits of maintaining a constant internal environment are taken into consideration. Some species have evolved the ability to regulate, but only over a limited range of environmental conditions, beyond which they simply conform.
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In the polar regions, small-sized animals are rare. What is the reaso...
Reason behind the rarity of small-sized animals in the polar regions
The correct answer to this question is option 'D': small-sized animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume and thus they tend to lose heat very fast. This answer is based on the concept of surface area-to-volume ratio and the challenges it presents in cold environments like the polar regions.
Surface area-to-volume ratio and heat loss
- Surface area-to-volume ratio refers to the ratio of the surface area of an object to its volume. In the case of animals, this ratio has a direct impact on their heat exchange with the environment.
- Smaller animals have a relatively larger surface area compared to their volume, which means they have more surface area through which heat can be lost.
- In cold environments like the polar regions, maintaining body heat is crucial for survival. However, small-sized animals with a high surface area-to-volume ratio tend to lose heat quickly, making it difficult for them to survive in such extreme conditions.
Heat conservation in large-sized animals
- Large-sized animals, on the other hand, have a smaller surface area relative to their volume. This allows them to conserve heat more efficiently compared to their smaller counterparts.
- The smaller surface area-to-volume ratio reduces the amount of heat lost to the environment, helping large-sized animals retain body heat in cold polar conditions.
- Additionally, large-sized animals often have adaptations such as thick fur, blubber, and other insulation mechanisms that further aid in heat conservation.
Prey-predator dynamics
- The statement in option 'C' that small-sized animals easily fall prey to their larger counterparts is also relevant to the rarity of small animals in the polar regions.
- In a harsh environment like the polar regions, where resources are limited, competition for food and survival is intense.
- Larger animals, with their better heat conservation abilities and potentially higher energy requirements, may have a competitive advantage over smaller animals.
- This can lead to a higher predation rate on smaller animals, reducing their population size and making them rare in polar regions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the rarity of small-sized animals in the polar regions can be attributed to their higher surface area-to-volume ratio, which results in rapid heat loss. This makes it challenging for them to maintain their body heat in extreme cold conditions. Additionally, the prey-predator dynamics and competition for limited resources further contribute to the rarity of small animals in the polar regions.
The correct answer to this question is option 'D': small-sized animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume and thus they tend to lose heat very fast. This answer is based on the concept of surface area-to-volume ratio and the challenges it presents in cold environments like the polar regions.
Surface area-to-volume ratio and heat loss
- Surface area-to-volume ratio refers to the ratio of the surface area of an object to its volume. In the case of animals, this ratio has a direct impact on their heat exchange with the environment.
- Smaller animals have a relatively larger surface area compared to their volume, which means they have more surface area through which heat can be lost.
- In cold environments like the polar regions, maintaining body heat is crucial for survival. However, small-sized animals with a high surface area-to-volume ratio tend to lose heat quickly, making it difficult for them to survive in such extreme conditions.
Heat conservation in large-sized animals
- Large-sized animals, on the other hand, have a smaller surface area relative to their volume. This allows them to conserve heat more efficiently compared to their smaller counterparts.
- The smaller surface area-to-volume ratio reduces the amount of heat lost to the environment, helping large-sized animals retain body heat in cold polar conditions.
- Additionally, large-sized animals often have adaptations such as thick fur, blubber, and other insulation mechanisms that further aid in heat conservation.
Prey-predator dynamics
- The statement in option 'C' that small-sized animals easily fall prey to their larger counterparts is also relevant to the rarity of small animals in the polar regions.
- In a harsh environment like the polar regions, where resources are limited, competition for food and survival is intense.
- Larger animals, with their better heat conservation abilities and potentially higher energy requirements, may have a competitive advantage over smaller animals.
- This can lead to a higher predation rate on smaller animals, reducing their population size and making them rare in polar regions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the rarity of small-sized animals in the polar regions can be attributed to their higher surface area-to-volume ratio, which results in rapid heat loss. This makes it challenging for them to maintain their body heat in extreme cold conditions. Additionally, the prey-predator dynamics and competition for limited resources further contribute to the rarity of small animals in the polar regions.
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In the polar regions, small-sized animals are rare. What is the reaso...
D is the correct answer
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In the polar regions, small-sized animals are rare. What is the reason behind this?a)Small animals have less fur than largesized animals.b)The lack of vegetation in the polar regions is a challenge as small animals are primarily herbivorous.c)Small sized animals easily fall prey to their larger counterparts and thus their population cannot flourish.d)Small-sized animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume and thus they tend to lose heat very fast.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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In the polar regions, small-sized animals are rare. What is the reason behind this?a)Small animals have less fur than largesized animals.b)The lack of vegetation in the polar regions is a challenge as small animals are primarily herbivorous.c)Small sized animals easily fall prey to their larger counterparts and thus their population cannot flourish.d)Small-sized animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume and thus they tend to lose heat very fast.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about In the polar regions, small-sized animals are rare. What is the reason behind this?a)Small animals have less fur than largesized animals.b)The lack of vegetation in the polar regions is a challenge as small animals are primarily herbivorous.c)Small sized animals easily fall prey to their larger counterparts and thus their population cannot flourish.d)Small-sized animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume and thus they tend to lose heat very fast.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for In the polar regions, small-sized animals are rare. What is the reason behind this?a)Small animals have less fur than largesized animals.b)The lack of vegetation in the polar regions is a challenge as small animals are primarily herbivorous.c)Small sized animals easily fall prey to their larger counterparts and thus their population cannot flourish.d)Small-sized animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume and thus they tend to lose heat very fast.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
In the polar regions, small-sized animals are rare. What is the reason behind this?a)Small animals have less fur than largesized animals.b)The lack of vegetation in the polar regions is a challenge as small animals are primarily herbivorous.c)Small sized animals easily fall prey to their larger counterparts and thus their population cannot flourish.d)Small-sized animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume and thus they tend to lose heat very fast.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about In the polar regions, small-sized animals are rare. What is the reason behind this?a)Small animals have less fur than largesized animals.b)The lack of vegetation in the polar regions is a challenge as small animals are primarily herbivorous.c)Small sized animals easily fall prey to their larger counterparts and thus their population cannot flourish.d)Small-sized animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume and thus they tend to lose heat very fast.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for In the polar regions, small-sized animals are rare. What is the reason behind this?a)Small animals have less fur than largesized animals.b)The lack of vegetation in the polar regions is a challenge as small animals are primarily herbivorous.c)Small sized animals easily fall prey to their larger counterparts and thus their population cannot flourish.d)Small-sized animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume and thus they tend to lose heat very fast.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
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