(ˌpɔɪkɪləʊˈθɜːmɪk) or poikilothermal (ˌpɔɪkɪləʊˈθɜːməl)
adjective
(of all animals except birds and mammals) having a body temperature that varies with the temperature of the surroundings
Compare homoiothermic
Derived forms
poikilothermism (ˌpoikiloˈthermism) or poikilothermy (ˌpoikiloˈthermy)
noun
Word origin
C19: from Greek poikilos various + thermal
Examples of 'poikilothermic' in a sentence
poikilothermic
Less seasonal environments may therefore facilitate the evolution of larger brains in poikilothermic animals.
Yi Luo, Mao Jun Zhong, Yan Huang, Feng Li, Wen Bo Liao, Alexander Kotrschal 2017, 'Seasonality and brain size are negatively associated in frogs: evidence for the expensivebrain framework', Scientific Reportshttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s41598-017-16921-1. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
Most agricultural pests are poikilothermic species expected to respond to climate change.
Lisa Biber-Freudenberger, Jasmin Ziemacki, Henri E. Z. Tonnang, Christian Borgemeister 2016, 'Future Risks of Pest Species under Changing Climatic Conditions', PLOS ONE10.1371/journal.pone.0153237. Retrieved from PLOS CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
Poikilothermic vertebrates are among the most hypoxia-tolerant animals known, and many molecular mechanisms remain elusive.
Weizhao Yang, Yin Qi, Bin Lu, Liang Qiao, Yayong Wu, Jinzhong Fu 2017, 'Gene expression variations in high-altitude adaptation: a case study of the Asiatictoad (Bufo gargarizans)', BMC Geneticshttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12863-017-0529-z. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
Poikilothermic disease vectors can respond to altered climates through spatial changes in both population size and phenology.
Justin V. Remais, Yang Liu, Joshua S. Fu, Manoj Gambhir, Howard H. Chang, RadhikaDhingra, Violeta Jimenez 2013, 'Spatially-Explicit Simulation Modeling of Ecological Response to Climate Change: MethodologicalConsiderations in Predicting Shifting Population Dynamics of Infectious Disease Vectors',ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Informationhttp://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/2/3/645. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
Several terrestrial poikilothermic ectotherms have adapted to thermoregulate through basking and seek refuge in subterranean burrows in extreme climatic conditions.
Aditi Mukherjee, Honnavalli Nagaraj Kumara, Subramanian Bhupathy 2018, 'Sun-basking, a necessity not a leisure: Anthropogenic driven disturbance, changingthe basking pattern of the vulnerable Indian rock python in Keoladeo National Park,India', Global Ecology and Conservationhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989417301889. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)