Question

Which of the following examples best describes the concept that form facilitates function? a. Crickets must balance their resources between spermatophore production and immune defenses. b. A desert jackrabbit has large ears that help eliminate excess heat. c. An Antarctic fish maintains homeostasis by conforming to the stable, external temperature. d. Honeybees will swarm around a predatory wasp and contract their flight muscles to generate a lethal ball of heat.

Short answer

The example that best describes the concept that form facilitates function is: b. A desert jackrabbit has large ears that help eliminate excess heat.

Step-by-step solution

Concept of Form Facilitates Function:

The concept of form facilitates function refers to the idea that the physical features or structure of an organism (form) play an essential role in allowing the organism to perform certain functions or tasks (function). In other words, the way an organism is built enables it to do what it needs to survive and reproduce. Now let's analyze each option:

Option a: Cricket Resources

This example talks about how crickets must balance their resources between spermatophore production and immune defenses. This example doesn't involve the physical features or structure of the cricket allowing it to perform specific tasks. So this option does not fit our concept.

Option b: Desert Jackrabbit Ears

This example states that a desert jackrabbit has large ears that help eliminate excess heat. Large ears are a physical feature (form) of jackrabbits, which helps them in effectively removing excess body heat (function). This example aligns well with the concept "form facilitates function."

Option c: Antarctic Fish Conforming to Temperature

This example explains that an Antarctic fish maintains homeostasis by conforming to the stable, external temperature. While homeostasis is an essential function for organisms, this example doesn't provide information on the physical features or structure (form) of the fish that allows it to conform to the temperature. As such, this example doesn't fit our concept.

Option d: Honeybee Predatory Defense

This example says honeybees will swarm around a predatory wasp and contract their flight muscles to generate a lethal ball of heat. Although this fascinating defense behavior highlights the function the bees have to protect themselves and their hive, it doesn't focus on any specific physical feature (form) of the bees that enable them to generate that heat. Therefore, this example doesn't fit our concept. Based on the analysis of each option, we can determine:

Answer

The example that best describes the concept that form facilitates function is: b. A desert jackrabbit has large ears that help eliminate excess heat.

Key concepts

Biological Adaptation

Biological adaptation involves the process through which species develop traits over time to survive and thrive in their environments. It's a cornerstone concept of evolutionary biology. Adaptations are categorized into structural, physiological, and behavioral. An example can be seen in the desert jackrabbit's large ears. These ears are not simply for hearing; they serve a critical function for survival in hot conditions.

Large ears have an extensive surface area relative to the jackrabbit's body size, which increases heat dissipation. As the blood flows through the ears, the heat can transfer out into the surrounding environment, helping the rabbit maintain a tolerable body temperature despite the scorching desert heat. This is an exemplary case where adaptation shapes form for function — a large ear size (form) adapted specifically for heat regulation (function).

Organism Physiology

Organism physiology refers to the study of biological functions within living organisms, encompassing the chemical and physical processes that occur within various species. Physiology dives into how organisms carry out the activities essential to life, from the cellular level up to full-body systems.

Understanding organism physiology involves appreciating how various anatomical structures are not merely present by happenstance, but have evolved to fulfill specific roles. For instance, the intricate network of blood vessels and nerves found in a jackrabbit's ears are physiologically optimized to release excess body heat, showcasing a direct relationship between the physiological function and the adaptation of its anatomical form.

Homeostasis

Homeostasis is the process by which a stable internal environment is maintained inside an organism, regardless of external changes. It encompasses various regulatory mechanisms that adjust physiological systems to preserve conditions within survivable limits. Key aspects of homeostasis include temperature regulation, pH balance, and glucose concentration.

A desert jackrabbit's ability to regulate its body temperature through its large ears is a prime example of homeostatic regulation. Through the ears' extensive network of blood vessels, the rabbit can vary the amount of blood flow, thus modulating heat exchange with the environment and maintaining a stable internal body temperature — a crucial aspect of organism physiology.

Anatomical Structure

Anatomical structure refers to the physical makeup of an organism, encompassing all its body parts and systems. Anatomy studies the form, location, and interaction of different structures within an organism. Clear understanding of anatomy allows us to decipher how organisms carry out their vital functions and survive in their environments.

Looking at the anatomy of a desert jackrabbit, we can appreciate the large ears not merely in isolation but as components of an integrated system designed for thermoregulation. The delicate skin, vast amounts of surface capillaries, and minimal fur cover all play a synergistic role in the function of heat dissipation. Each subtle feature of the jackrabbit's ear anatomy directs us to the inherent principle that form facilitates function in biological organisms.