As compared to terrestrial organisms, the rate of breathing in aquatic organisms is:
As compared to terrestrial organisms, the rate of breathing in aquatic organisms is:
Options
The correct option is b (faster because the amount of dissolved oxygen in water is fairly low).
Marking Scheme
- 11 Mark for selecting the correct option (b).
Hint
Compare the availability of oxygen in the air with that in water. How must an aquatic animal compensate for a lower concentration of oxygen?
Quick Oral Answer
The rate of breathing in aquatic organisms is much faster than in terrestrial organisms because the amount of dissolved oxygen in water is fairly low compared to the oxygen content in the atmosphere.
Analysis & Explanation
Aquatic organisms utilize oxygen dissolved in water for respiration. Since the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water is much lower compared to the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere, aquatic organisms must breathe at a much faster rate to obtain sufficient oxygen to meet their metabolic demands.
- Why option (b) is correct: It accurately states that the breathing rate is faster due to the low concentration of dissolved oxygen in water.
- Why option (a) is incorrect: The faster rate is a physiological adaptation to the low availability of dissolved oxygen, not because they inherently require more total oxygen than terrestrial organisms.
- Why options (c) and (d) are incorrect: These options incorrectly state that the rate of breathing is slower.
Common Mistakes
- 1Choosing options with 'slower' breathing rate, mistakenly assuming that water contains more oxygen than air.
- 2Thinking that aquatic organisms breathe faster because they have higher energy requirements than terrestrial animals.
Interesting Facts
Fish gulp water through their mouths and force it past their gills, where the dissolved oxygen is rapidly absorbed into the blood capillaries due to counter-current exchange.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2023?
This question carries 1 mark in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2023 examination.
Which chapter does this question come from in Science?
This question is from the chapter "Life Processes" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.
What topic does this question cover in Science?
This question covers the topic "Respiration" from CBSE Class 10 Science.
What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2023 paper?
This is a MCQ question from Section A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2023 paper.