Those ones
The biochemical process through which carbohydrates are broken down, converted, and utilized by the body for energy.
Carbohydrate Metabolism
A short-term state of decreased physiological activity characterized by a reduced metabolic rate and lower body temperature, allowing animals to survive adverse conditions.
Torpor
A state of prolonged dormancy in some animals characterized by reduced metabolic activity, allowing them to conserve energy during extreme environmental conditions, typically in winter.
Hibernation
Physiological or behavioral changes in animals that enhance survival in specific environmental conditions.
Adaptations in Wildlife
Disaccharides
Carbohydrates composed of two monosaccharide units linked by a glycosidic bond (e.g., sucrose, lactose, and maltose).
The ways in which humans interact with wildlife, including impacts on animal behavior, habitat, and conservation efforts, as well as conflicts that may arise.
Human-Wildlife Interaction
A metabolic state characterized by elevated levels of ketone bodies in the blood, occurring when carbohydrate intake is low, forcing the body to utilize fats for energy.
Ketosis
Aerobic Respiration
A process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy (ATP), carbon dioxide, and water, occurring in the mitochondria and yielding a higher amount of energy.
Monosaccharides
The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar molecules (e.g., glucose, fructose, and galactose) that cannot be hydrolyzed into simpler sugars.
The process of converting glucose into glycogen for storage, primarily occurring in the liver and muscle cells.
Glycogenesis
A form of respiration that occurs in the absence of oxygen, where glucose is partially broken down to produce energy, typically yielding less energy than aerobic respiration.
Anaerobic Respiration
A position in a food chain or food web, categorized based on the level at which organisms obtain their energy (e.g. producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers).
Trophic Level
An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch into sugars, primarily found in saliva and pancreatic secretions.
Amylase
The connective tissue comprised of fat cells (adipocytes) that store energy in the form of fat and serves important roles in insulation and protection.
Adipose Tissue
Metabolic Pathways
Series of chemical reactions occurring within a cell, through which substrates are converted into products, involving enzymes and leading to energy production.
The process by which food is broken down into its constituent molecules (digestion) and subsequently absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal walls (absorption).
Digestion & Absorption
An enzyme that breaks down cellulose into glucose and is mainly produced by certain bacteria and fungi, as humans lack this enzyme.
Cellulase
Physiological changes in animals that allow for efficient energy use and survival during different seasons, responding to variations in temperature, food availability, and other environmental factors.
Seasonal Metabolic Adaptation
The breakdown of glycogen into glucose-1-phosphate and ultimately glucose, which can be utilized for energy.
Glycogenolysis
Polysaccharides
Carbohydrates that consist of long chains of monosaccharide units (e.g., starch, glycogen, and cellulose) and serve various functions such as energy storage and structural support.
A polysaccharide that serves as a form of energy storage in animals, primarily found in the liver and muscles.
Glycogen
A simple sugar (monosaccharide) that is an important energy source in living organisms and is a primary product of carbohydrate digestion.
Glucose
Energy Storage & Utilization
Methods by which organisms store excess energy (e.g., as glycogen or fat) and how they utilize this energy for metabolic needs.
The behavioral patterns and techniques used by animals to find and exploit food resources effectively.
Foraging Strategy
Fermentation
A metabolic process that converts sugars into acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen, often occurring in gut microbiota in animals or in yeast.
The synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors, such as amino acids and glycerol, mainly occurring in the liver and kidneys.
Gluconeogenesis
Villi & Microvilli
Villi are small, finger-like projections in the small intestine that increase the surface area for absorption. Microvilli are even smaller projections on the surface of villi that further enhance this absorption capability.
A metabolic pathway parallel to glycolysis that generates NADPH and ribose-5-phosphate for nucleotide synthesis and fatty acid metabolism.
Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP)
The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, generating a small amount of ATP and NADH, and occurs in the cytoplasm.
Glycolysis
Components that focus on how organisms interact with their environment and the implications for conservation efforts aimed at protecting species and ecosystems.
Environmental & Conservation Aspects