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Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function
Freeman - Biological Science 8th Edition
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 39, Problem 3

Which of the following statements regarding surface area and volume in animals are correct? Select True or False for each statement.
T/FAs an animal grows, its volume increases more rapidly than its surface area.
T/FA chihuahua has a higher surface area to volume ratio than a Great Dane.
T/FAnimals with high surface area to volume ratios heat and cool more slowly than animals with lower surface area to volume ratios.
T/FAs an animal's volume increases, its total surface area decreases.

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1
Understand the relationship between surface area and volume: As an object grows, its volume increases faster than its surface area. This is because volume is a cubic function of size, while surface area is a square function.
Evaluate the first statement: 'As an animal grows, its volume increases more rapidly than its surface area.' This statement is true based on the mathematical relationship between surface area and volume.
Consider the second statement: 'A chihuahua has a higher surface area to volume ratio than a great dane.' Smaller animals generally have higher surface area to volume ratios compared to larger animals, making this statement true.
Analyze the third statement: 'Animals with high surface area to volume ratios heat and cool more slowly than animals with lower surface area to volume ratios.' In reality, animals with high surface area to volume ratios lose and gain heat more quickly, making this statement false.
Review the fourth statement: 'As an animal's volume increases, its total surface area decreases.' This statement is false because while the surface area does not decrease, it increases at a slower rate compared to volume.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Surface Area to Volume Ratio

The surface area to volume ratio is a mathematical relationship that describes how the surface area of an object changes relative to its volume as the size of the object changes. In biological contexts, this ratio is crucial because it affects processes like heat exchange, nutrient absorption, and waste elimination. Smaller animals or cells typically have a higher surface area to volume ratio, facilitating faster exchange with their environment.
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Scaling in Biology

Scaling refers to how different biological characteristics change with size. As animals grow, their volume (which is a function of the cube of their linear dimensions) increases faster than their surface area (which is a function of the square of their linear dimensions). This principle explains why larger animals have different physiological and anatomical adaptations compared to smaller ones, such as different metabolic rates and heat retention capabilities.
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Thermoregulation in Animals

Thermoregulation is the process by which animals maintain their body temperature within certain boundaries, even when the surrounding temperature is different. Animals with a high surface area to volume ratio, like small mammals, lose heat quickly and must generate more heat to maintain their body temperature. Conversely, animals with a low surface area to volume ratio retain heat more effectively, which influences their habitat preferences and behaviors.
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