1.A mammal uses only 1-2% of its energy in ventilation while a fish must spend 15 % of energy to move water over gills. Explain huge difference in efforts to collect oxygen.
2006-12-15 04:46:36 · 4 answers · asked by jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaba 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Oxygen concentrations are much higher in air, which is about 21% oxygen, than in water, which is a tiny fraction of 1 percent oxygen. Fish just have to work harder to get the oxygen to sustain life than mammals do.
2006-12-15 05:50:12 · answer #1 · answered by john h 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may have to do with the fact that mammals breathe air (20% O2) and fish "breathe" water (way less than 1% O2)... it makes sense that they'd have to work harder with such a limited supply of oxygen
2006-12-15 05:45:44 · answer #2 · answered by theba_boy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it is because less oxygen is dissolved in water, so fish have to work alot more to bring in the same amount of O2, also water has other challenges, it is more viscous, diffusion is slower, and there can be greater variation in O2 concentration between water habitats
2006-12-16 20:08:17 · answer #3 · answered by jennypjd 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A mammal uses their diaphragm to breath whereas a fish needs to use its whole body to swim and therefore breath.
2006-12-15 05:39:24 · answer #4 · answered by Bloodsucker 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋