Question

Without considering the sizes of the wedges, how do the three pie charts differ in which functions they include? Explain these differences.

Short answer

The pie chart that represents python does not include thermoregulation like the charts of penguins and mice. However, the growth wedge is absent in penguins’ and mice’s pie charts, but present in python’s pie chart.

Step-by-step solution

Bioenergetics

The branch of biological science deals with studying the regulation of energy and the formation of energy in organisms. For example, the citric acid cycle and glycogenesis are bioenergetic processes.

The study of bioenergetics helps in knowing about the chemical processes and actions of enzymes in releasing and transforming energy.

Ectotherms

The cold-blooded organisms which depend on external sources to maintain their body temperature are called ectotherms. For example, invertebrates, amphibians, fish, and reptiles show ectothermic behavior. A common example of depending on an external source is basking in the sun during cold weather.

Difference between the given pie charts, which represent penguin, mouse, and python

The python is a reptile and exhibits ectothermic behavior. Therefore, the pie chart of the python does not include thermoregulation as it does not have an energy budget for the process.

Birds and mammals are warm-blooded and have a significant amount of energy budget for thermoregulation. Therefore, pie charts of a penguin and a mouse have thermoregulation wedges.

Reptiles like python show continued growth during their life cycle. Therefore, the pie charts of the python have a growth wedge. However, it is absent in penguins and mice because growth stops in these organisms at a certain age.