Surface area to volume ratio

• • Smaller organisms have a larger surface area-to-volume ratio, facilitating efficient exchange.
  • Larger organisms develop specialized structures (e.g., lungs, gills) to aid in exchange due to a smaller surface area-to-volume ratio.
• If an organism has a large SA to volume ratio, whats that mean?

  Shorter diffusion pathway
• Give an eg of an adaptation to increase surface area to volume

  Gill lamalle in fish
• What does a lower SA:V mean?

  slows diffusion, creating challenges for larger organisms.
• Name a few speacalized structures in larger organisms.

  Develop specialized structures to increase surface area:

  • Villi in the small intestine (for absorption)
  • Alveoli in lungs (for gas exchange)
  • Gills in fish (for oxygen uptake)
  • Root hair cells in plants (for water and nutrient absorption)
• In smaller animals, how quick do they lose heat?

  Lose heat quickly → Need higher metabolic rates to maintain body temperature.
• In bigger animals, how quick do they lose heat?

  Retain heat better → Lower relative heat loss.
• equation to find SA:Ratio

  $\frac{surface\ area}{volume}$