Poikilotherm

A poikilotherm is an organism whose body temperature varies with environmental temperature rather than remaining relatively constant. Many poikilotherms regulate temperature through behavior and physiology.

Ectotherm: An organism that relies mainly on external heat sources to regulate body temperature. Most poikilotherms are ectotherms, though the terms describe different properties.
Homeothermy: The maintenance of a relatively stable body temperature over time. It contrasts with poikilothermy, which concerns variation in body temperature.
Ectothermy: Reliance on external heat sources as the principal means of warming the body. This common heat strategy helps explain poikilotherms' dependence on environmental temperatures.
Poikilothermy: The condition of having a body temperature that varies with environmental temperature. This noun names the trait defined by the concept.
Thermoregulation: The processes by which an organism maintains or adjusts its body temperature. Poikilotherms can regulate temperature without keeping it constant.
Endotherm: An organism that generates most of its body heat through internal metabolism. Heat source and temperature stability are separate traits; an endotherm can be poikilothermic.
Thermal performance curve: A relationship showing how an organism's performance changes across temperatures. It captures how temperature variation affects poikilotherm activity and function.
Homeotherm: An organism that maintains a relatively stable body temperature. It describes the temperature pattern opposite to poikilothermy.
Behavioral thermoregulation: Temperature control through behaviors such as basking, seeking shade, or changing posture. These behaviors let poikilotherms alter heat gain and loss.
Thermal physiology: The study of how organisms function across temperatures and manage heat exchange. It provides the physiological framework for understanding variable body temperature.

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