Oceans/Gas
Exchange
Based on
Mader, Sylvia S. 1996. Biology -
5th Ed. WCB
and
Cox, G.W.
1997. Conservation Biology
- 2nd ed. WCB
and
Levine,
J.S. and K.R. Miller. 1994. Biology:
Discovering Life. D.C. Heath
Reading: Chapters 17, 18 in Cox
Chapter 36 in Levine and Miller
- Gas Exchange
- Plants - take in CO2
at stomata
- concurrent loss of
water
- stomata close when
water is scarce
- Animals - take in oxygen,
release CO2
- need for O2
proportional to:
- volume
- metabolism
- activity
- must have
sufficient surface area to allow oxygen
in
- not a problem
for small organisms
- larger
organisms:
- evaginations
(gills)
- invaginations
(lungs, tracheae)
- ventilation
- breathing
- ram
ventilation
- special
mechanisms:
- countercurrent
flow (Figure 36.4):
O2
concentration in water
----->
100% 70% 40%
15%
90% 60% 30%
5%
<--- O2
concentration in blood
-
- hemoglobin
and other pigments
- binds oxygen
in air or water, brings
into body
- releases
oxygen under warmer,
acidic conditions
- in
muscles where CO2
is released
- diffusion is at the
basis of all respiration
- Gas exchange crucial for
aquatic organisms
- oxygen levels 5% of
that in air
- compensation:
Aquatic organisms are
- slower
- smaller
- less active
- dont use
energy to stay in position
(float)
- exceptions:
- whales -
- breathe
air
- fish
- swim
constantly (ram
ventilation)
stay near surface
1999 - read Chapters 17, 18 in
Cox, prepare for test via study guide.
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