Final answer:
High conductance in animals indicates low insulation and low resistance to heat loss, meaning heat transfers easily between the animal and its environment. Animals adapt to their environments with varying levels of insulation, such as fur or fat, which is designed to regulate conductance and conserve body heat.
Step-by-step explanation:
With respect to heat flow between animals and their environments, high conductance corresponds to low insulation and to low resistance to heat loss. Conductance is a measure of how easily heat passes through a material. In biological contexts, animals with high conductance lose heat quickly because of less effective insulatory materials, such as thin fur or feathers, allowing more heat transfer between the animal and its environment. Conversely, animals with lower conductance have better insulation, often achieved with thick fur, fat, or feathers, which create a barrier to heat flow.
For example, polar bears have thick fur and a layer of fat that provide low conductance and high resistance to heat loss, ensuring they stay warm even in freezing temperatures. Materials like fur and feathers are effective because they trap air, which is a poor conductor of heat. This principle is similarly used in man-made insulations, utilizing air's low conductivity to minimize heat loss.