Researchers measured the internal body temperatures of a number of perentie lizards, Varanus giganteus, on a day in March 1983 - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 9 - 2007 - Paper 1
Question 9
Researchers measured the internal body temperatures of a number of perentie lizards, Varanus giganteus, on a day in March 1983. The following graph shows the average... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Researchers measured the internal body temperatures of a number of perentie lizards, Varanus giganteus, on a day in March 1983 - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 9 - 2007 - Paper 1
Step 1
On this day, at what time did the lizards reach their highest internal body temperature?
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Answer
The lizards reached their highest internal body temperature at approximately 1:30 pm. Referring to the graph, this is the time at which the average internal temperature of the lizards peaks before declining.
Step 2
Does the answer you gave in part i coincide with the highest air temperature for the day? Explain.
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No, the highest internal body temperature reached by the lizards does not coincide with the highest air temperature. The highest air temperature occurred at around 1:30 pm, yet the lizard's activity and their heat absorption could lead to such a difference, as they may not directly align.
Step 3
Is a lizard likely to detect skin temperature by the nervous system or the hormonal system? Explain.
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A lizard is likely to detect skin temperature through the nervous system. This is because the nervous system has sensory receptors that provide immediate feedback on environmental changes. In contrast, the hormonal system typically manages slower, regulatory responses rather than immediate detection.