Q40.4-6ITD. - Campbell Biology

Question

If you monitored energy allocation in the penguin for just a few months instead of an entire year, you might find the growth category to be a significant part of the pie chart. Given that adult penguins don’t grow from year to year, how would you explain this finding?

 

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Penguins gain fat during a certain period, such as during the breeding season. However, they eventually lose this fat. Therefore, the growth wedge would be a significant part of the pie chart if energy allocation or expenditure is considered for a month during the breeding season. 

Step 1: Penguins

The aquatic, flightless bird which has dark and white plumage is the penguin. Penguins are found in polar regions and have flippers for swimming. They are experts in diving and adapted to live most of their lives in water because they feed on fish. They have thick body fat, which helps them to thrive in cold conditions. 

Step 2: Energy expenditure in penguins

The given pie charts show 340,000 kcal/year expended annually by penguins. Penguins are larger animals than mice and expend more energy on thermoregulation. However, a python is ectothermic and does not have an energy budget for thermoregulation.

Step 3: The total energy expenditure by penguins in months

Penguins increase their food intake before the breeding season and store considerable energy as fat. Penguins breed at rookies, which is farther than the sea. Therefore, they fast for more than months during the breeding season. 

Therefore, focusing on an increase in body mass in a certain period indicates that penguins are growing. Thus, if energy expenditure is considered for months, the growth category becomes a part of the pie chart.