Poikilothermy

Poikilothermy is a condition in which an organism’s body temperature varies substantially over time or with environmental temperature, rather than remaining nearly constant.

Thermoregulation: The physiological and behavioral processes by which organisms regulate body temperature. Poikilothermy describes a temperature pattern shaped by the degree and means of thermoregulation.
Endothermy: The generation of most body heat through internal metabolic processes. Endothermy concerns heat source, not whether body temperature remains stable.
Q10 temperature coefficient: A measure of how much a biological rate changes with a 10-degree temperature increase. It quantifies how temperature variation changes physiological rates in poikilotherms.
Homeotherm: An organism that maintains a relatively stable body temperature over time. Homeothermy is the contrasting temperature pattern, though it can occur in ectotherms or endotherms.
Ectothermy: A reliance on external heat sources to regulate body temperature. External heat dependence often causes body temperature to track environmental conditions.
Ectotherm: An organism that relies primarily on external sources of heat. Many poikilotherms are ectotherms, though the terms describe different properties.
Thermal performance curve: A graph showing how an organism’s performance changes across temperatures. Poikilotherms often perform best within a limited range of body temperatures.
Poikilotherm: An organism whose body temperature varies substantially over time or with the environment. This is the organism-level term for exhibiting poikilothermy.
Behavioral thermoregulation: The use of actions, such as basking or seeking shade, to alter body temperature. Poikilothermic animals can moderate temperature variation by moving between thermal environments.
Body temperature: The temperature of an organism’s body or a specified part of it. Poikilothermy is defined by variation in this measurable physiological quantity.

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