Adaptations for Exchange in Animals Flashcards
what does the rate of oxygen depend ?
depends on the surface area available for gas exchange.
surface area to volume ratio affects :
- the surface adapted for use for gas exchange
- the level of activity of the organism.
why might surface area to volume ratio decrease
As organisms increase in size, their surface area to volume ratio decreases and so specialised respiratory surfaces are needed.
what is needed when the surface area to volume ratio is decreased?
specialized respiratory surfaces
fish require specialized gas exchange surfaces as
- they have a smaller surface area to volume ratio
- they are relatively active and so have high metabolic rates making oxygen requirements
high - they require a ventilation mechanism to maintain concentration gradients for gas
exchange.
ventilation in bony fish
- Mouth opens, the floor of the buccal cavity lowers so volume increases, pressure decreases and water rushes in.
- Mouth closes, the floor of the buccal cavity raises, increasing pressure and pushing water over the
gills. - Pressure in gill cavity increases and water forces operculum open and leaves through it.
why do fish require a ventilation mechanism?
to push water, a dense medium with low oxygen content, over the high surface area gill filaments.
Removal from water causes these gill filaments to collapse, stick together and the gas exchange surface becomes too small for survival.
what do the gills contain?
gill filaments
gill lamellae
gill rakers
what does gill lamellae do?
act as the gas exchange surface
across which the water flows
function of gill rakers?
Gill rakers prevent large particulates
entering and blocking the gills.
gas exchange surfaces must be :
- be moist in terrestrial animals
- be thin short diffusion pathway
- have a large surface area
- be permeable to gases
- have a good blood supply to maintain
concentration gradients (larger
organisms only).
what is continuous flow / parallel flow ?
If water and blood flow in the same direction,
equilibrium is reached and oxygen diffusion
reaches no net movement halfway across the
gill plate.
what is counter-current flow ?
If water and blood flow in opposite directions
across the gill plate, the concentration
gradient is maintained and oxygen diffuses
into the blood across the entire gill plate.
How AMOEBA’S adapt to the challenge of gas exchange:
*Single cell
*Large surface area to volume ratio
*Rate of oxygen diffusion through external surface meets demand. A low metabolic rate means oxygen demand is low.
*Thin membrane provides a short diffusion distance to the middle of the cell.
*simple diffusion
How FLATWORMS adapt to the challenge of gas exchange:
*Multicellular
*Smaller surface area to volume ratio
*Flattened body to reduce diffusion distance so rate of oxygen diffusion through body
surface meets demand
How EARTHWORM adapt to the challenge of gas exchange:
- cylindrical Multicellular
*Even smaller surface area to volume ratio
*Slow moving and low metabolic rate ∴ require little oxygen
*Rely on external surfaces for gas exchange but the circulatory system needed to distribute oxygen. The circulatory system transports oxygen to the tissues and removes
carbon dioxide, maintaining a steep diffusion gradient
*Mucus secreted to moisten surface and slow moving to reduce oxygen demand
what is the gas exchange surface for humans?
Alveoli
The gas exchange surface,
lined with a surfactant that
reduces surface tension
and prevents collapse
on exhalation.
ventilation in humans ?
inspiration
gas exchange in amphibia
They don’t ventilate like fish but movement of the gills through water maintains a
concentration gradient.
info you should pick out
Amphibia have soft, moist skin and exchange gases over their surface at rest.
Oxygen and carbon dioxide circulate through a closed circulation system containing hemoglobin.
When active, movements of the buccal
cavity ventilate lungs, which are simple with few alveoli.
how does an organisms size relate to its surface area to volume ratio?
the larger the organism the lower the surface area to volume ratio
how does surface area to volume affect the transport or molecules ?
the lower the SA/V ratio, the further the distance molecules must travel to reach all parts of the organism.
diffusion alone is not sufficient in organisms with small SA/V ratios
Why do larger organisms require mass transport and specialised gas exchange surfaces?
● Small SA/V ratio
● Diffusion insufficient to provide all cells with the required oxygen and to remove all carbon dioxide
● Large organisms more active than smaller organisms
- Name four features of an efficient gas exchange surface
● Large surface area
● Short diffusion distance
● Steep diffusion gradient
● Ventilation mechanism
define ventilation
The movement of fresh air into a space and
stale air out of a space to maintain a steep
concentration gradient of oxygen and
carbon dioxide.
Name the organ of gaseous exchange in fish.
gills