Size and surface area

• How does surface area relate to volume in animals?


  • Smaller animals have a larger surface area: volume ratio.
  • Larger animals have a smaller surface area: volume ratio.
• What is the surface area: volume ratio of a mouse represented as a cube of size 1 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm?


  1. 1
• What is the volume of a cube hippo measuring 2 cm x 4 cm x 4 cm?

  32 cm³
• Why do smaller animals have a higher surface area: volume ratio?

  They have more surface area compared to their volume
• What adaptations do small mammals in hot regions have to conserve water?

  • Kidney structure adaptations to produce less urine.
  • Behavioral adaptations to minimize water loss.
• What adaptations do small mammals in cold regions have to support their metabolic rates?

  • Eat large amounts of high-energy foods.
  • May have thick layers of fur or hibernate.
• How do elephants adapt to hot environments?

  They have large flat ears to increase heat loss
• What behavioral adaptation do hippos use to help them lose heat?

  They spend much of the day in water
• What factors influence an animal's body size or shape in relation to its environment?

  • Climate conditions
  • Adaptations for heat exchange
• What is the body temperature of an Arctic fox?

  37 °C
• What is the average outside temperature for an African bat-eared fox?

  25 °C
• What is the average outside temperature for a European fox?

  12 °C
• What are the challenges for animals with a high surface area: volume ratio in hot regions?

  • They lose more water through evaporation.
  • They need adaptations to conserve water.
• What is meant by a 'mass transport system'?

  A system that transports substances efficiently
• How does an animal's shape help control its temperature?

  Shape affects surface area for heat exchange
• What adaptations might a small animal have to survive in a cold environment?

  • Thick fur or insulation
  • Behavioral adaptations like hibernation
• What adaptations might a large animal have to survive in a hot environment?

  • Large ears for heat dissipation
  • Behavioral adaptations like staying in water
• What is the relationship between surface area: volume ratio and heat loss?

  Higher ratio leads to greater heat loss
• What is the surface area: volume ratio of a cube hippo?

  1. 1
• Why is diffusion slow in multicellular organisms?

  Due to the distance substances must travel