Temperature Regulation in Turtles

Temperature Regulation in TurtlesWhile turtle species vary widely in size and habitat, all must control their bodytemperatures for essential functions. Turtles can achieve a considerabledegree of stability in body temperature by regulating their exchange of heatenergy with the environment. Turtles exposing themselves to the sun on alog in a pond are a familiar sight in many parts of the world, because fewpond turtles are large enough to maintain body temperatures higher thanthe temperature of the water surrounding them. Emerging from the waterto bask is the only way most pond turtles can raise their body temperatures tospeed digestion, growth, and the production of eggs. In addition, basking mayhelp aquatic turtles to rid themselves of algae and leeches. Exposure toultraviolet light may activate vitamin D, which is involved in controlling calciumdeposition in their bones and shell. A few turtles spend quite a lot of time intrees; these turtles have small shells that allow considerable freedom ofmovement for limbs. The big-headed turtle from Southeast Asia lives infast-flowing streams at high altitudes and is said to climb on rocks and trees tobask. In North America musk turtles bask on overhanging branches and dropinto the water when they are disturbed.Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in thehighlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning inimportant ways or leave out essential information.A.Because turtles need to maintain body temperatures that are higherthan the temperature of the water in most ponds, pond turtles have tospend a lot of time on logs.B.Since most pond turtles are too small to maintain body temperaturesabove the temperature of the water they are in, they often sunthemselves on logs.C.Before small pond turtles have grown large enough to maintain highbodytemperaturesinpondwater,theycanbeseensunningthemselves on logs.D.The fact that small pond turtles often expose themselves to the sunshows that such turtles need to maintain higher body temperatures thanmost other turtles do.According to paragraph 1, basking may benefit turtles in all of the followingways EXCEPT:A.making them grow fasterB.activating vitamin DC.helping them digest food fasterD.making their shells harderSmall terrestrial turtles, such as box turtles and small species of tortoises, canthermoregulate by moving between sunlight and shade. Small tortoises warmand cool quite rapidly, and they appear to behave very much like other smallreptiles in selecting suitable microclimates for thermoregulation. Familiaritywith a home range may assist this type of thermoregulation. A study conductedin Italy compared the thermoregulation of Hermann’s tortoises living in theirown home range with individuals that were brought to the study site and testedbefore they had learned their way around. The resident tortoises warmed...