Animals at the extremes: polar biology

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Animals at the extremes: polar biology provided by OpenLearn is a comprehensive online course, which lasts for 14 hours worth of material. Upon completion of the course, you can receive an e-certificate from OpenLearn. The course is taught in Englishand is Free Certificate. Visit the course page at OpenLearn for detailed price information.

Overview
  • The extreme challenges of life in the polar regions require the animals who make their habitat there to make many adaptations. This free course, Animals at the extremes: polar biology, explores the...

Syllabus
    • Introduction
    • Learning outcomes
    • 1 Polar biology
    • 1 Polar biology
    • 1.1 Preamble
    • 1.2 The polar environment
    • 2 Environmental regulation of physiological processes
    • 2 Environmental regulation of physiological processes
    • 2.1 Nutrient budgeting
    • 2.2 Migration for breeding
    • 2.3 Environmental regulation of breeding
    • 2.4 Variable fecundity
    • 2.4.1 Summary of Sections 1 and 2
    • 3 Natural feasting and fasting
    • 3 Natural feasting and fasting
    • 3.1 Introduction
    • 3.2 Penguins
    • 3.3 Bears
    • 3.3.1 Dormancy in black and brown bears
    • 3.4 Bears (continued)
    • 3.4.1 Fasting in polar bears
    • 3.5 The structure of adipose tissue
    • 3.5.1 Summary of Section 3
    • 4 Thermal insulation
    • 4 Thermal insulation
    • 4.1 Insulation in terrestrial endotherms
    • 4.2 Insulation in aquatic endotherms
    • 4.3 Humans in polar regions
    • 4.3.1 Summary of Section 4
    • 5 Polar ectotherms
    • 5 Polar ectotherms
    • 5.1 Introduction
    • 5.2 Passive properties
    • 5.2.1 Blood pigments
    • 5.3 Metabolism
    • 5.3.1 Muscles
    • 5.4 Fatty acids as indicators of diet
    • 5.4.1 Summary of Section 5
    • 6 Conclusion
    • 6 Conclusion
    • Course questions
    • References
    • Acknowledgements