Educational Model: Animal Heat Balance

This model is a component of the IUMC (Innovative Educational and Methodological Complex) "Ecology: Constructing the Biosphere", developed in 2008 by D. A. Shabanov, A. G. Kozlenko, and M. A. Kravchenko by order of the NTFP (National Training Foundation) of the Russian Federation (more about this project is in the article "Innovation and Reality"; reasons why this complex is not used are briefly described in the column "Textbooks: Straight into the Day After Tomorrow"). This model is posted here for educational use. The model provides an understanding of the heat balance of homeothermic animals and the processes that maintain it. The theoretical material related to the model is in the section "Thermobiological Types of Organisms" of the manual "Ecology: Biology of Interactions". To begin working with the model, click the "Next" button. Instructions for working with the model are located at the very bottom of its window; if these instructions do not fit in the small box, they can be scrolled up and down with the arrows on the right. The left side of the screen lists the main processes of heat production and heat loss; the right side lists some adaptations affecting heat exchange. Heat production is determined by heat generation (thermogenesis) in tissues and organs during normal vital activity (basal metabolism), during muscular work in active movement and/or shivering, as well as by special metabolically active structures such as brown fat. Heat loss occurs through the body surface (radiation, convection, or conduction), through evaporation of water from surfaces (sweating), or in respiratory organs (thermal panting). Navigation in the model is performed using tools located on the right side of the working area. In the information area (below the image), there are thermal sensors showing how well selected parameters correspond to the optimum. Some tasks that can be solved while working with the model: 1. By trial, select animal parameters that allow maintenance of constant body temperature at both high and low ambient temperatures. 2. Suggest which existing animals can be compared with the obtained variants.