Exchange (exhchange Between Organisms And Their Enviroment) Flashcards
What is surface area to volume ratio
The ratio between surface area and volume of an object
What is the ratio when an animal is very small
When a animal is very small it has a larger surface area when compared to its volume which means it has a larger surface area to volume ratio
What is the ratio when an animal is very large
Large animals have a smaller surface area compared to its volume therefore a smaller surface area to volume ratio
What ways do humans adapt their exchange surfaces
Alveoli In lungs
Villi in the small intestine
What have large organisms evolved
Large organisms have evolved one or more of the following features
-a flattened shape so that no cell is ever far from the surface (eg a leaf)
-specialised exchange surfaces with large areas to increase the surface area to volume ratio eg lungs in mammals and gills in fish
What is rate of diffusion dependent on
Surface area - rate of diffusion is directly proportional to the surface area. As the surface area increases the rate of diffusion increases
Concentration gradient - rate of diffusion is directly proportional to the difference in concentration across the gas exchange surface . The greater the concentration gradient the faster the diffusion
Thickness of the gas exchange surface - rate of diffusion is inversely proportional to the thickness of the gas exchange surface. The thicker the surface the slower the diffusion
What’s the structure of a leaf
Wax cuticle , palisade mesophyll , spongy mesophyll , lower epidermis , wax cuticle
What gases move in and out
Co2 diffuses in for photosynthesis and oxygen mainly moves into the air
What do plants need the gases for
Oxygen for respiration and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
How do they diffuse into the leaf
The gases diffuse into the intercellular spaces of the leaf through pores which are normally on the underside of the leaf called stomata . Opening and closing of stomata is controlled by guard cells
What are the adaptations of a plant leaf for efficient gas exchange
-leaves are flat and often large to give a large surface area for gas exchange from the outside of the leaf
- thin leaves providing a short diffusion distance
-many stomata providing a short diffusion distance
-air spaces mean the gases can readily come in contact with mesophyll cells
-cells are very close to the external air , and therefore a source of oxygen and carbon dioxide
-mesophyll cells are vertical so more can fit also they have a large surface area for rapid diffusion of gases for photosynthesis
What happens to the leaf at night and day
When photosynthesis is taking place although some carbon dioxide comes from respiration of cells , most of it is obtained from the external air . In the same way some oxygen from photosynthesis is used in respiration but most of it diffuses out of the plant
When photosynthesis is not occurring for example in the dark , oxygen diffuses into the leaf because it is constantly being used by cells during respiration and co2 produced diffuses out
What is the function of the air spaces in the leaf
Move co2 and o2 through the leaf
What is the function of the palisade mesophyll
They have many chloroplasts than other plant cells to produce glucose . They are layed out vertical so many of them can be produced into the top layer of the leaf
What is the function of the xylem and phloem
Xylem moves water from roots to leaves ( absorbed from the soil through root hair cells and it is transported through the xylem vessels up the stem to the leaves ), phloem moves food substances from leaves to the rest of the plant . Both of these are rows of cells that make continuous tubes running the full length of the plant .
What’s the function of the stomata and guard cells
They open and close the stomata in the leaf this may occur when the plant has lost an excessive amount of water . They help regulate the rate of water loss . Gases diffuse through the stomata
What is the function of the spongy mesophyll
Not packed tightly together which allows carbon dioxide and oxygen to reach the palisade cells where they are needed in photosynthesis. Not much light
What is the function of the waxy cuticle
Thin , waxy covering to prevent water loss within the leaf by evaporation
What are some adaptations of cacti
They have large stems that can hold and store water for photosynthesis
Some have flowers to promote pollination
Thick waxy cuticle to reduce water loss
Less stomata to minimise water loss while still allowing for gas exchange for photosynthesis
Spines instead of leaves to deter predators
Widespread roots to obtain water From farther away
What is the transpiration stream
The movement of water from the roots through the xylem and out of the leaves
What are xerophytes
plants that are adapted to living in areas where water is in short supply . Without these adaptations plants would become desiccated and die
What is the main way of surviving in habitats where there is a high rate of water loss and limited supply of water
Reduce the rate at which water can be lost through the leaves ( evaporation / transpiration)
How is water lost through a plant
Photosynthesis requires a large leaf surface area for the capture of light and for the exchange of gases , this leads to water being lost because more leaf area means more stomata water is lost through
What do terrestrial plants have
A waterproof covering over parts of the leaves and the ability to close stomata when necessary
What are the 8 adaptations that xerophytes have
- a thick cuticle - this increases diffusion distance and the less water can escape from the leaves by evaporation eg in holly leaves
-rolling of leaves / rolled leaves - traps a region of moist air therefore trapping water vapour within a leaf , reducing the water potential gradient between the inside and outside of the leaf eg in marram grass
-hairy leaves/ hairs - ( especially on the lower epidermis ) traps still moist air next to the leaf surface , trapping water vapour and therefore the water potential gradient is reduced eg heather plant
-a reduced surface area to volume ratio of the leaves - by having small /circular leaves the rate of water loss by evaporation is reduced ( and normally reducing number of stoma and this is balanced with the need for a sufficient area for photosynthesis) eg pine trees
-longer network of roots to reach more water
-spines which reduces surface area to volume ratio ( as smaller than leaves ) - stoma in pits or grooves - these trap still moist air therefore water vapour next to the leaf and reduce the water potential gradient
Suggest appropriate units the student should use to compare the distribution of stomata on leaves
Stomata per cm2
The leaf tissue examined was very thin explain why this is important
To see a single layer of cells so light can pass through
Give two reasons why it was important that the student counted the number of stomata in several parts of each piece of leaf tissue
To obtain a reliable mean
To get a representative sample
Suggest two reasons why the rate of water uptake by a plant might not be the same as the rate of transpiration
1) water is used in photosynthesis ( so uptake will be higher )
2) water produced in respiration ( so uptake will be lower )
Describe a method you could use to find the surface area of a leaf
Draw around leaf on graph paper , count the squares and multiply by 2
What features do fish have
Fish have a waterproof and therefore gas tight outer covering
Being relatively large they also have a small surface area to volume ratio
What are fish specialised internal gas exchange surface
The gills
What is the structure of the gills
Made up of gill filaments which are stacked in a pile . They have lamellae at right angles to the filaments to increase the surface area further
how do the fish get o2
water and blood flow through the lamellae in oppositte directions (antiparallel) this ensures that a steep concentration gradient is maintained across the entire length of the gill lamellae( this is known as countercurrent)
what features do the gills have
- many lamellae so large surface area
-large number of capillaries therefore maintains a diffusion gradient
-thin lamellae walls therefore provides a short diffusion pathway
a disease causes lamellae to become thicker and to fuse together . agd recues the efficiency of gas exchange in fish . give two reasons why
1) surface area is decreased as lamellae fuse
2)thicker lamellae so greater diffusion distance
the volume of water passing over the gills increases if the temperature of the water increases suggest why
less oxygen dissolved in the water and incresed metabolism
suggest one advantage the fish have from the one way flow
less energy is needed
why is the countercurrent arrangement important for efficient oxygen uptake
to maintain a steep concentration gradient of oxygen across the whole length of lamelle therefore diffusin occurs across the whole length of gill
what features do single celled organisms have
- single celled organisms have a large surface area to volume ratio
- o2 and co2 are absorbed by diffusion across their body surface
-where a living cell is surrounded by a cell wall this is no aditional barrier to the diffusion of gases
what gas exchange system do insects have
insects have evolved an internal network of tubes called tracheae which are supported by strengthened rings (cartilage) to prevent them from collapsing . the tracheae divide into smaller tubes called tracheoles which extend throughout all the body tissues of the insect. in this way oxygen is brought directly to the respiring tissues gases enter and leave tracheae through tiny pores called spiracles which run along the body surface
how is the air brought in quickly
atmospheric air is brought directly to the respiring tissues as there is a short diffusion pathway from a tracheole to any body cell
how do the respiratory gases move in and out of the tracheal system
in 3 ways
1) down a diffusion gradient - when cells are respiring 02 is used up so its concentration towards the ends of the tracheoles falls . this creates a concentration gradient between inside and outside of the insect so oxygen can diffuse by simple diffusion along the tracheae and tracheoles to the cells. carbon dioxide is produced by respiration creating a concentration gradient in the oppositte direction which therefore diffuses into the atmosphere
2) mass transport - muscles in abdomen contract and relax which can pump gases in and out
3)pressure changes - when insects are flying or carrying out activity muscle cells respire producing lactate lowering water potential therefore water moves from tracheoles into cells by osmosis . providing lower pressure in tracheoles and therefore gas from atmosphere diffuses into tracheal system
what are some features of terrestrial insects exoskeleton
have an exoskeleton made of hard fibrous material , chitin for protection and a lipid layer to prevent water loss
how do insects limit water loss
- having a thin permeable surface with a large surface area is great for gas exchange , however these features conflict with the need to conserve water .
they have evolved the following to reduce water loss
1) small surface area to volume ratio where water can evapourate (spiracles)
2)waterproof exoskeleton - chitin , water can only evapourate from spiracles
3) spiracles - where gases can enter and exit or water can evapourate , can open and close to reduce water loss
what increases transpiration rate
windier / hotter conditions
what are alveoli
the site of gas exchange