BRAINCAKELimiting Water Loss in Insects
In terrestrial organisms, gas exchange systems are exposed to the environment. The need to exchange gases with the environment conflicts with the need conserve water. Organisms need to limit water loss without reducing the efficiency of their gas-exchange systems.
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Key terms in this lesson
- diffusion
- The net passive movement of molecules or ions from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration, down a concentration gradient.
- surface area to volume ratio
- The ratio of an organism's or structure's external surface area to its total volume, which decreases as size increases.
- spiracle
- A pore in the exoskeleton of an insect, opened and closed by a valve, through which air enters and leaves the tracheal system.
More in Exchange of Gases
- Structure of the Gills
- Counter Current Exchange
- Gas Exchange in Leaves
- Stomata
- Limiting Water Loss in Plants
- The Human Gas Exchange System
- The Lungs
- Mechanism of Breathing
All 28 lessons in Exchange of Gases · All AQA AS-level Biology topics