Surface area and Size Flashcards
What is the advantage of being an Unicellular organism?
Can exchange materials directly with their environment as they have a large SA:V and the diffusion distance is short
What is the disadvantage of being an Unicellular organism?
Lose heat energy and water quickly, cannot survive extreme heat or cold
What is the advantage of being a Multicellular organism?
Lose less heat energy as they have a small SA:V and diffusion distance is large so they can survive more easily in cold environments
What is the disadvantage of being a Multicellular organism?
Need internal mass transport systems. In hot environments, they need adaptations to cool down.
What is the metabolic rate?
The amount of energy expended by that organism in a time period
What is the metabolic demand?
How much oxygen and nutrients an organism needs to take in daily to respire enough to maintain the metabolic rate
What is the behavioural adaptation of heat loss?
Small animals eat nuts and seeds to maintain their body temperature. Some also hibernate during the winter
What is the physical adaptation of heat loss?
Adapted animals will have a streamlined compact body shape which gives a smaller SA:V so less heat loss. Also some may have thick fur to keep them warm and reduce heat loss
What is the behavioural adaptation of overheating?
Large organisms spend most of their time in water. Some organisms are nocturnal so they are more active in the night
What is the physical adaptation of overheating?
Large organisms have large ears to increase the surface area which allows them to lose more heat
What is the behavioural adaptation of water loss?
Organisms may be nocturnal so they only are active during the night
What is the physical adaptation of water loss?
Small mammals with a high SA:V have kidney structure adaptations so that they produce less urine to compensate for water lost through evaporation.
