Gaseous Exchange in Coral and Tuna

Gaseous Exchange in Coral Polyps and Tuna

• Gaseous exchange is by diffusion in both organisms.
• Both organisms have a large surface area to volume ratio for gas exchange.
• Gases pass across a thin layer of cells.
• The diffusion path is short.
• Gases move from an area of high concentration to low concentration.
• Oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide is removed.
• Coral is sedentary, with a low oxygen demand, while tuna swims continuously, with a high oxygen demand.
• Coral has no specialized structures for gas exchange, while tuna has gills.
• Coral has tentacles to increase surface area for gas exchange.
• Tuna has numerous gill filaments/lamellae to increase surface area.
• Coral does not require a transport system, while tuna does to transport gases.
• Tuna uses ram ventilation to force water over gills.
• Coral polyps may create a current using tentacles.
• Tuna uses counter-current exchange for maintaining a concentration gradient.

Movement of Sodium Ions Across Cell Membranes

• Sodium ions are charged.
• Cannot pass through the lipid bilayer.
• Movement is by facilitated diffusion and active transport.
• Using channel proteins and carrier proteins.
• Proteins are specific.
• Facilitated diffusion occurs through channel proteins.
• No energy is required for facilitated diffusion.
• Movement is from high to low concentration.
• Channel proteins can open and close/are gated.
• Carrier proteins are used in active transport.
• Active transport moves ions against the concentration gradient.
• Energy in the form of ATP is required for active transport.
• Carrier proteins can change their shape.

Cell Membrane Processes

• Cells of marine organisms constantly move substances.
• Substances move between cells or are exchanged with the surrounding sea water.
• Three processes are discussed in the table: diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport.
• Diffusion is a passive process where substances move from high to low concentration, used to move glucose.
• Facilitated diffusion is a passive process that uses channel proteins to move substances from high to low concentrations, where substances moves from high to low concentration.
• Active transport uses carrier proteins to move substances from low to high concentrations, and this requires energy.

Plant and Animal Cell Responses to Concentrated Sugar Solutions

• Water diffuses from an area of high water potential inside a cell to an area of lower potential, such as concentrated sugar solution.
• In plant cells, the cell membrane pulls away from the cell wall.
• In animal cells, the cell shrinks.

Grouper Ventilation

• Ventilation occurs when the mouth opens and the operculum closes.
• The volume of the buccal cavity increases due to muscle contraction.
• The pressure in the buccal cavity decreases, becoming lower than that in the sea water.
• Water flows into the mouth.
• This is an active process requiring energy from ATP.

Shark and Grouper Classification

• Sharks and groupers are in the same phylum (chordates).
• Both have a notochord, dorsal neural tube, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail
• Sharks have a cartilaginous skeleton and gill slits; groupers have a bony skeleton and operculum.
• Groupers have a swim bladder; sharks use denticles.

Cell Structure and Function

• Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration.
• Rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) transports proteins.
• Ribosomes synthesize proteins.

Mitochondria in Marine Fish Muscle

• Muscle cells of marine fish have many mitochondria.
• Mitochondria provide energy in the form of ATP for movement/swimming/muscle contraction.

Carrier Proteins in Cell Membranes

• Carrier proteins span the membrane and are intrinsic.
• Involved in passive and active transport.
• Contain hydrophilic channels for ions or polar molecules/charged substances.
• Carrier proteins have gates that open and close, controlling the movement of substances into/out of the cell.
• Carrier proteins can change shape to transport substances.

Explore the fascinating mechanisms of gaseous exchange in coral polyps and tuna. This quiz delves into how diffusion facilitates gas exchange and compares the adaptations of these two organisms for oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide removal. Understand the structural differences and respiratory adaptations between sedentary coral and actively swimming tuna.