gas exchange in terrestrial insects Flashcards
what does the exoskeleton do ?
hard fibrous material for protection and a lipid layer to prevent water loss
what system do insect have ?
tracheal system
explain insect adaptations to prevent water loss?
small SA: VOL where water can evaporate from
waterproof exoskeleton
spiracles can open and close to prevent water loss
where are spiracles?
length of abdomen
where do oxygen and carbon dioxide leave and enter through
spiracles
where do the trachea attach ?
spiracles
what are the trachea ?
network of internal tubes
why do the trachea have rings ?
to strengthen the tubes and to keep them open
what do the tracheoles attach to ?
trachea
where are the tracheoles and what do they do ?
all through the tissue in the insects to deliver oxygen to all respiring cells
explain how simple diffusion works in insects ?
when cells respire they use up oxygen and make carbon dioxide instead, creating a concentration gradient from the tracheoles to the atmosphere
how does gas exchange in mass transport work in insects ?
insect contracts and relaxes abdominal muscles in order to move gases in mass
how does aerobic respiration work in insects?
when insects are in flight cells start to respire anaerobically to produce lactate.this lowers water potential of cells and therefor water moves from the tracheoles into the cells by osmosis .this reduces the volume in the tracheoles and as a result more air from the atmosphere is drawn in
what adaptions do instects have for efficent gas exchange ?
large number of fine tracheoles -large surface area
walls of tracheoles are thin and short distance between spiracles and tracheoles -short diffusion pathway
use of oxygen and production and carbon dioxide = steep concentration gradient
