Adaptive Physiology

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• critically discuss adaptive physiological changes associated with developmental transitions in animals and humans using metamorphosis in insects and human neonatal changes in respiration and circulation as examples
• explain the relationship between animal physiology, temperature and the external environment and adaptations to survival in an extended range of temperatures;
• design, carry out and present a group-based literature research project.
• describe the physiological challenges and medical consequences of deep sea diving in humans and how technological methods are used to compensate for a lack of physiological adaptations;
• distinguish different immune defence systems employed across the animal kingdom
• illustrate the physiological adaptations developed by animals that allow them to remain submerged for prolonged periods;
• discuss regulatory mechanisms underlying feeding behaviour
• compare the role of osmoregulation in the physiology of different animal groups
• describe the functions and design of circulatory systems in a wide range of animal groups;

This module will cover a range of physiological systems and the way that they adapt to changing conditions both within and between animal species. Topics currently covered are physiological adaptations in circulation, immune defence, respiration, osmoregulation, feeding and metabolism, endocrine, and temperature regulation. The evolution of these systems across the animal kingdom will be related to differences in body plan, life style, and habitat. Moreover, regulatory mechanisms will be explored that allow individual animals to adapt their physiology to environmental changes such as those associated with diving, exposure to extreme temperatures, and birth.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, group-based library project with presentations and independent study.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Moyes, CD and Schulte, PM (2013). Principles of Animal Physiology. Pearson Education Inc.

Eckert (D. Randall, W. Burgren, K. French) (2002). Animal Physiology. Freeman.

K. Schmidt-Nielsen (2013). Animal Physiology - Adaptation and Environment. Cambridge University Press.

Hall and Hall (2020). Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology. Elsevier Health Science.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.