Gas exchange in insects

Question 1

what problem do insects face

Answer 1

water easily evaporates from their surface and the features that make this possible conflict with the ones needed to conserve water

Question 2

how do they reduce water loss

Answer 2

waterproof coverings

small surface are to volume ratio

Question 3

how do they respire

Answer 3

thy have an internal network of tubes called tracheae. these divide into smaller tubes called tracheoles which run throughout the body’s tissue

Question 4

how do gases move in and out of the tracheal system

Answer 4

along a diffusion gradient - oxygen is being used when cells are respiring so towards the end of the system the concentration falls

Question 5

what is one way gases move in and out of the tracheal system

Answer 5

along a diffusion gradient - oxygen is being used when cells are respiring so towards the end of the system the concentration falls. so there is a diffusion gradient allowing oxygen to diffuse

Question 6

another way gases move in and out of the tracheal system

Answer 6

ventilation - the movement of muscles in insects creates movement of air in and out of the tracheae. this speeds up the exchange

Question 7

how does gas enter and leave tracheae

Answer 7

through tiny pores called spiracles. most of the time they’re closed to prevent water loss

Question 8

why do insects have to be small

Answer 8

so the diffusion pathway is short