As organisms increase in size they have to develop strategies to enable adequate gas exchange to occur. Explain why this is and how organisms overcome this problem.
As organisms increase in size they have to develop strategies to enable adequate gas exchange to occur. Explain why this is and how organisms overcome this problem.
(WRITE ABOUT S.A. : VOLUME RATIO GETTING SMALLER ETC.)
When the volume of a gas exchange surface increases, the diffusional distance for the oxygen also increases. This causes problems because when the diffusional distance reaches a certain point, gas exchange stops being efficient and new and more efficient strategies for gas exchange are needed. Often, diffusion through the skin is not a satisfactory method of gas exchange because the skin is designed to protect the body, therefore it is a non permeable suface. Certain organisms have been adapted to cope with this problem. They have formed specific methods and organs to aid their gas exchange.
(WRITE ABOUT S.A. : VOLUME RATIO GETTING SMALLER ETC.)
When the volume of a gas exchange surface increases, the diffusional distance for the oxygen also increases. This causes problems because when the diffusional distance reaches a certain point, gas exchange stops being efficient and new and more efficient strategies for gas exchange are needed. Often, diffusion through the skin is not a satisfactory method of gas exchange because the skin is designed to protect the body, therefore it is a non permeable suface. Certain organisms have been adapted to cope with this problem. They have formed specific methods and organs to aid their gas exchange.