Metabolism

Unit 6

Definition
Metabolism
Collection of chemical reactions that takes place in the cells

Metabolic activity in plants

How do plant seeds feed themselves?
Germinating seeds: no pigments, no photosynthesis

Embryo

Where is starch (i.e. plant food) present in seed?

Does boiling or soaking affect it?

Boiled seed Soaked seed

3 drops of IKI per seed half

Where is metabolism taking place? Does boiling or soaking affect it?

Boiled seed 3 drops of TZ indicates (with pink) where metabolism is occurring Soaked seed

Embryo stained red Unstained embryo

Metabolism in cockroaches
What factors might account for different oxygen consumption rates?
Activity Body size

Effect of temperature on oxygen consumption

There is a positive relationship between ambient temperature and metabolic rate for roaches as measured by changing oxygen consumption rates Metabolic activity is a series of chemical reactions and these reactions respond to temperature

Weight-specific oxygen consumption rates

O2 consumption rate Weight-specific O2 consumption rate = Weight of roach

Gas exchange systems in terrestrial animals

How do gases involved in metabolism enter and leave cells?
DIFFUSION

Diffusion of oxygen from the medium into the blood. Transport of oxygen to the tissues and cells of the body. Diffusion of oxygen from the blood into cells. Carbon dioxide follows a reverse path

Insect respiratory system

Insect respiratory system

Tracheal system Air enters through spiracles and travels within the trachea to reach the bodys cells for gas exchangeoccurs via diffusion The tracheae branches into smaller tubes, called tracheoles

*Pathway of air
Epiglottis Larynx Esophagus Trachea Bronchus (2) Diaphragm

Bronchiole Arteriole Venule Alveoli

Human respiratory system

Lungs are sub-divided into tiny air sacs (alveoli) to increase surface area for gas exchange Gas exchange occur in the alveoli Oxygen enter the capillaries by diffusion

Why?

Carbon dioxide leaves the blood and enter the alveolus by diffusion

How is the air taken into the lungs?

-Contraction of diaphragm increases volume within chest cavity -Pressure is reduced inside chest cavity compared to atmospheric pressure outside the body

-Air is pushed into the lungs by the greater pressure outside the body
-Gas laws: same volume of gas in a larger space will have a lower pressure

What is the function of the epiglottis?

-The epiglottis is usually upright at rest allowing air to pass into the larynx and lungs. -The epiglottis folds backward to cover the entrance of the larynx so food and liquid do not enter the trachea and lungs.

Thermal strategies for animal metabolism

Sets of adaptations and responses to environmental temperature

Ectotherms- control body temperature through external means , such as the sun, or flowing air/water.
Examples of temperature control include:
Snakes and lizards sunning themselves on rocks. Fish changing depths in the water column to find a suitable temperature. Desert animals burrowing beneath the sand during the day. Insects that warm their flight muscles by vibrating them in place.

Thermal strategies for animal metabolism

Sets of adaptations and responses to environmental temperature

Endotherms- control their body temperatures through internal means such as muscle shivering, fat burning, sweating, panting

Ectotherms

ECTOTHERMS

O2 CONSUMPTION VARIES WITH TEMPERATURE

ENDOTHERMS Can maintain constant O2 consumption across a broad range of temperatures.

Metabolic rate and body size

Some general patterns: Endotherms are typically larger than ectotherms

At any size, endotherms consume more oxygen than ectotherms.

In other words, the endotherm strategy is energetically expensive.

Pros and Cons to each strategy

Ectotherms: inexpensive strategy, dont have to consume as much food as endotherms do less searching, less risky

However, ectotherms are prisoners of their environments. Cannot exploit the environment like an endotherm.

Endotherms: expensive strategy, have to consume lots of food searching costs Endotherms are able to exploit the environment. They can live in a wide range of habitats.

Metabolic rate and body size in Endotherms

Smaller ENDOTHERMS have HIGHER metabolic rates than larger endotherms: Need more ENERGY to maintain body temperature due to higher SA:Volume ratios

Metabolic rate and body size

Endotherms have a enormous weight-specific oxygen consumption rate Cat consumes oxygen at a rate of 0.44 ml/g/h Human consumes 0.21 ml/g/h A 20 g shrew would consume 3.5 ml/g/h It is very expensive to be an endotherm

1. The graph below illustrates the effect of increased temperature on metabolic rate in an aquatic ectotherm, Daphnia magna (water "flea"). What is the relationship between metabolic rate and a 10C increase in temperature?

Each 10C increase in temperature results in a doubling of the metabolic rate.

2. In the lungs, oxygen and carbon dioxide move in and out of the alveoli and capillary network by which process?
Diffusion

3. What specific effect does high temperature have, in order to cause the sharp decline in oxygen consumption above 35oC?

Denaturation of enzymes

4. If the environmental temperature (-1oC) is below body temperature, what does your body do to maintain a relatively constant temperature?
Muscle Shivering

Sample test items 1. Which of the following animals has the highest WSOCR? Animal Puppy Mouse kitten Weight 800 g 30 500 O2 consumption 5.0 ml/min 1.0 5.0 WSOCR

0.006
0.03 0.01

Which of the following is a benefit to the endothermic strategy?

A) Allows an organism to have a smaller body size B) Allows an organism to maximize activity over a wider range of environmental temperatures C) Allows an organism to take advantage of unpredictable resource availability D) Allows an organism to have lower energy requirements

Metabolism in cockroaches
Carbon dioxide
KOH

KOH

Changes in gas volume in response to normal metabolic activity Oxygen consumption is determine by measuring the distance the blue dye moves down the glass tube

Distance bubble moved mm

Volume distance X 0.0962 ml

Rate volume/time ml/min

Effect of temperature on oxygen consumption

KOH

KOH

There is a positive relationship between ambient temperature and metabolic rate for ectotherms as measured by changing oxygen consumption rates Metabolic activity is a series of chemical reactions and these reactions respond to temperature

endotherms

ectotherms