The process of gas exchange is very important in living things as it allows the production of energy which is required in body cells in order for life process such as reproduction to take place. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are the main gases involved in this process. Gas exchange is the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide in and out of the cells. It is essential for respiration to occur. A carbon dioxide build up in the body is extremely dangerous so this must be removed from the body. Respiration is a process which is required for living things as it removes carbon dioxide from the body and replaces it with oxygen, this being a requirement for survival.
In order for gas exchange to be efficient and effective, there must be a large surface
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These include:
Direct diffusion from the atmosphere
Wind and wave action
Photosynthesis
Of these, the process of photosynthesis (this done through aquatic plants and phytoplankton) is the most important.
Oxygen, which is derived from the process of photosynthesis, is produced during daylight hours when sunlight shines on the plants in the water. Oxygen levels will drop at night due to respiration by aquatic plants and animals (fish). These are predictable changes in dissolved oxygen levels which occur every 24 hours. This is commonly known as the diurnal oxygen cycle (diagram 1).
Diagram 1 illustrates how the dissolved oxygen concentration within water fluctuates on a 24-hour basis in a lake in which the blue cod that were used to illustrate the information gathered are located. The blue cod which are commonly seen and known in Wairarapa’s location tend to live in salt waters which would show slightly varied results. The fluctuation is referred to as a diurnal oxygen cycle. Dissolved oxygen levels are shown to increase during daylight hours when photosynthesis is occurring and decrease at night when respiration continues to occur while photosynthesis does
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During the gas exchange process, fish will open their mouths to allow water in, it will then close its mouth which forces water to travel through the gills and out through the operculum/gill cover (illustrated in diagram 3). During inspiration, the mouth opens causing muscles to lower to the floor of the buccal (mouth) cavity, as well as causing the opercula to bulge outwards. This process will increase the internal volume whilst lowering the internal water pressure located within the mouth. During this, the opercula remain closed, thus ensuring that water enters through the mouth. During expiration, the mouth will close which causes muscles to raise the floor of the buccal cavity and push the walls of the operculum inwards. This process reduces the internal volume whilst increasing the internal water pressure located within the mouth. From this point, the opercula will open causing water to be pushed out over the gill surface. This ensures that water flows through the gills in one direction, further allowing a more efficient gas exchange in comparison to if the water were to have to travel in and out the same way. This is key for the survival of the fish due to the low oxygen concentration in water. Due to the fact that water enters the gas exchange surface in the same way which food enters the fish's body, unwanted food particles are likely to be present in the water.
The Effect of Light Intensity on the Rate of Oxygen Production in a Plant While Photosynthesis is Taking Place
During the summers the oxygen content atop the water normally has a salinity level consistent with “more than 8 milligrams per liter”; but when oxygen content drops down to “less than 2 milligrams per liter” the water is then known to be in hypoxic state (CENR, 2000; USGS, 2006). Hypoxia is the result of oxygen levels decreasing to the point where aquatic organisms can no longer survive in the water column. Organisms such as fish, shrimps, and crabs are capable to evacuate the area but the fauna that cannot move either become stress and/or die. Due to this, many call the hypoxia zone the “dead zone” (Overview, 2008; USGS, 2006).
Methodology: The experimenter used two ten gallon tanks. One tank will be used for the controlled group and the other tank will be used for the experimental group. Each tank will have two pounds of sand spread among the bottom of the tank along with rocks and artificial habitats to add nitrogen to the tanks. To add optimal living conditions for the oceanic life water filtration systems, temperature regulator, circulation systems, and a light to mimic the sun’s rays were added to each tank. At all times both tanks had a temperature of 75 degrees F. This experiment was done over a three month period. The first month was to allow the nitrogen cycle to occur. This allows the fish to be exposed to the water without having stress reactions due to unhealthy living conditions due to the nitrogen. Once the first month was complete six fish was added to both tanks. Two tangs, two damsels, and two clownfish. At first both tanks had a pH level of 8.2, ideal living conditions. After one week the experimental group was exposed to a pH level of 8.6. After two weeks it was raised to 9. Two weeks later it was raised to 9.3. The final raise was done two weeks after making the pH level 9.5. The final week of the experiment the pH lev...
"Photosynthesis chlorophyll light intensity temperature carbon dioxide factors affecting rate." Photosynthesis chlorophyll light intensity temperature carbon dioxide factors affecting rate. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2014. .
It is when much needed oxygen is obtained by the body in order for respiration to take place and the waste CO2 is taken out of the body. In us mammals, the exchange takes place in the lungs which contain a large number of alveoli. These are sponge-like structures in which the diffusion takes place. They are highly adapted to diffuse the gases as they give a large surface area for exchange of the gases.
oxygen to survive. If the oxygen level is depressed to zero, all fish in the
The circulatory system and respiratory system share a highly important relationship that is crucial to maintaining the life of an organism. In order for bodily processes to be performed, energy to be created, and homeostasis to be maintained, the exchange of oxygen from the external environment to the intracellular environment is performed by the relationship of these two systems. Starting at the heart, deoxygenated/carbon-dioxide (CO2)-rich blood is moved in through the superior and inferior vena cava into the right atrium, then into the right ventricle when the heart is relaxed. As the heart contracts, the deoxygenated blood is pumped through the pulmonary arteries to capillaries in the lungs. As the organism breathes and intakes oxygenated air, oxygen is exchanged with CO2 in the blood at the capillaries. As the organism breathes out, it expels the CO2 into the external environment. For the blood in the capillaries, it is then moved into pulmonary veins and make
The best way to measure gasses is by creating a closed system for an experiment
Photosynthesis in simpler turns is the ability of a live plant to carry on its chemical process by the use of light energy. Photosynthesis can not take place when there is absolutely no light, instead it stores the light it captures during the day, and uses it when needed. Photosynthesis can take place in land plants and aquarian plants such as algae. There are many factors that influence the ability of a plant to go through photosynthesis, such as light, the color of light and amount of water and or light.
Photosynthesis occurs within chloroplasts which are in leaf cells. It takes carbon dioxide and water "within the chloroplast, sunlight powers the conversion of these ingredients to a sugar called glucose and oxygen" (Campbell, 37).
Opercular pumping is a mechanism utilized by certain fish for gas exchange. An opercular pump is used to pump water through the gills in an almost continuous unidirectional flow (SHSU). A dual pump is used in tandem in order to drive the unidirectional flow, both a buccal cavity and opercular cavity work simultaneously. The oral valve along the buccal cavity opens, allowing an influx of water. This influx of water causes an expansion of the opercular cavity, dropping the pressure (Hall). Water then enters into the opercular cavity and flows out due to opercular cavity compression. This compression pumps water out which leaves fresh air in the buccal cavity to be brought to the lungs for respiration. Lungfish utilize a different method of
The photosynthetic pigments are important because they donate the electrons needed to start the sequence of reactions
Photosynthesis will occur at a faster rate when the plant is exposed to the sun, than when it is not exposed to sunlight.
Photosynthesis is a process in which plants and other organisms convert the light energy from the sun or any other source into chemical energy that can be released to fuel an organism’s activities. During this reaction, carbon dioxide and water are converted into glucose and oxygen. This process takes place in leaf cells which contain chloroplasts and the reaction requires light energy from the sun, which is absorbed by a green substance called chlorophyll. The plants absorb the water through their roots from the earth and carbon dioxide through their leaves.
The molecular formula of carbon dioxide is CO2. Carbon dioxide is a naturally produced nontoxic gas that has no smell. Carbon Dioxide is the most abundant greenhouse gas on the planet next to water vapor. In solid form it is commonly known as dry ice. It is a gas that is mandatory to the survival of most, if not all, living organisms on this planet. Terrestrial animals naturally create carbon dioxide in their lungs when the breathe out Humans alone do not physically or directly need carbon dioxide to survive though. Humans need carbon dioxide to survive because it feeds the plants which produce oxygen for us to breathe. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also allows for a warmer temperature so that conditions on Earth allow it to be inhabitable. Today we hear that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is becoming a problem even though it is a naturally occurring gas. This is because humans have been interfering with the natural cycle of carbon dioxide.