BRAINCAKEOxygen Availability
Most organisms need oxygen for aerobic respiration, which releases far more ATP than anaerobic respiration. Oxygen is plentiful in air (about 21%), so it rarely limits land animals except at high altitude, where the partial pressure of oxygen is lower. It is much more often limiting in water and in soil.
Oxygen in water. Water holds far less oxygen than the same volume of air, and its oxygen content depends on:
• temperature: cold water holds more dissolved oxygen than warm water
• movement: fast, turbulent water is mixed with air, so it is well oxygenated, while still water may be low in oxygen
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More in The Nature of Ecosystems
- Light
- Temperature
- Wind and Water Currents
- Water Availability
- Edaphic Factors
- Predation
- Finding a Mate
- Territory
All 39 lessons in The Nature of Ecosystems · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics