Would an organism need a larger surface area in air or water to absorb oxygen? Why???

Question

Please help!!

Answer 1

The answer I think your teacher is looking for is water, because oxygen is not very soluble in water. However, most aquatic organisms, rather than dramatically increasing surface area of the gills, use increased ventilation. That means, they use energy to move more of the respiratory medium (water) past the respiratory surface (the gills) to increase exposure to the dissolved gases. For example, sharks use "ram" ventilation, where they swim with their mouths open, so the water flows into their mouths, then out by their gill slits.

Answer 2

They would need a larger surface area to absorb oxygen in water because of the fact that oxygen is more dilluted in water than it is in the air.