Final answer:
The marine iguana's behavior of basking in the sun to warm up and diving in water to cool down illustrates thermoregulation in ectothermic animals, which rely on the environment to regulate their body temperature for survival.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process described where the marine iguana basks in the sun to regulate its body temperature and then dives into the water, cooling down before needing to warm up again, is an example of thermoregulation in ectothermic animals. Ectothermic animals, like reptiles, are not able to internally regulate their body temperature; instead, they depend on external environmental sources, such as the sun, to heat their bodies.
The heat from the sun is crucial, as it increases the rate of the chemical reactions that occur in the lizard's body, effectively speeding up its metabolism. This increase in body temperature is essential for the lizard's survival because it allows for faster movement and a reduced chance of predation. When in water, these lizards rapidly lose heat, which slows down their metabolism, necessitating another round of basking to warm up and maintain their optimal body temperature for survival.