Final answer:
Temporal and spatial Ca2+ signaling differ in that temporal signaling is related to the timing of Ca2+ signals within cells, while spatial signaling refers to the specific locations where Ca2+ concentration changes occur and trigger localized cellular responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between temporal and spatial Ca2+ signaling is essentially about the timing and location of calcium ion (Ca2+) release and its subsequent effects within the cell. Temporal Ca2+ signaling refers to the timing of the Ca2+ release and can influence the speed and rhythm of cellular responses, essentially acting as a time-based signal. It dictates when particular cellular events happen, such as contraction in muscle cells. On the other hand, spatial Ca2+ signaling relates to the specific location within the cell where Ca2+ concentrations change, and can lead to location-based actions within the cell, directing where particular events occur, such as in the ß-cells of the pancreas where Ca2+ signaling prompts insulin release.