托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in biology called 'behavioral thermoregulation.' This is when animals actively adjust their behavior to control their body temperature, rather than relying solely on physiological mechanisms like sweating or shivering. The main point I want to emphasize is that behavioral strategies can be just as important as physiological ones for survival in extreme environments. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the desert iguana. During the hottest part of the day, when the sand temperature can exceed 50 degrees Celsius, these lizards will climb onto rocks or bushes to get above the hot surface. By doing this, they avoid overheating. Second, think about honeybees. In a hive, when temperatures get too high, worker bees will collect water and spread it over the comb, then fan their wings to create evaporation. This lowers the hive's temperature. In both cases, the animals are using behavior, not just physiology, to maintain a stable body temperature.