Please Help with this Microbiology Question!!! Consider a coccus and a rod of equal volume.?

Question

Which is more likely to survive in a dry environment? Which would be better adapted to a moist environment? Please explain your answer... Thanks

Answer 1

The coccus would be better suited for a dry environment. A sphere has less surface area for the volume, as such, less moisture will be lost by osmosis in a dry environment. In a moist environment, the higher surface area to volume ratio of a rod shaped bacterium will allow greater efficiency in transferring water and solutes into and out of the cell, making it possible for a rod shaped cell to have a higher metabolic rate, all other things being equal.

Answer 2

A Coccus