Group 2 - Insects
Insects are able to survive on land or in water. Both land insects and aquatic insects do the same gas exchange process however both have different adaptations that allow them to live in either land or water. A diving beetle and a mayfly are both good examples of how insects have adaptations that allow them to live in the water and be fully submerged without drowning. Diving beetles swim to the surface of the water to collect air, the gas exchange process then occurs and oxygen is produced. When the beetle swims back under the water they have a system in which they conceal the oxygen in …show more content…
Both land mammals and aquatic mammals do the same gas exchange process however both have different adaptations that allows them to live in either land or water. For example diving mammals such as seals and dolphins, they still have the same gas exchange system as terrestrial mammals they just spend a lot of time in the water so to be able to do the process of gas exchange they have adaptations that allow them to spend time under water without drowning. To be able to survive under water these animals need to be able to get a sufficient supply of oxygen to their lungs in order to maintain a high metabolic rate and a high oxygen rate. If the animal doesn’t have enough oxygen to last when they are under water then there is a high chance of that animal dying by drowning or by coming unconscious. Aquatic mammals such as dolphins seal their blowholes which is where the air enters in order to complete gas exchange. Sealing their blowholes insure that water doesn’t enter the lungs via the gas exchange system as this would cause the animal to drown and die. Aquatic mammals that don’t have blowholes such as seals seal their nasal cavities instead to avoid this risk. To try and avoid drowning or becoming unconscious, before diving animals will store oxygen in their lungs, blood (haemoglobin) and muscles, an example of a mammal that does this is the Harp Seal. Before diving the Harp Seal exhales this helps decrease the amount of energy