Respiratory Adaptations
One of the most complex body systems to adapt to an animals
environment is the respiratory system. The respiratory system is key to
providing oxygen to the animal’s cells and without it, the animal would not be
able to preform gaseous exchange. Some adaptations are only temporary and some
are permanent, this can be caused by the animal living at different altitudes.
The two animals that the respiratory systems have adapted most are the llama
(llama glama) and the deer mouse (peromuscus
maniculatus).
environment is the respiratory system. The respiratory system is key to
providing oxygen to the animal’s cells and without it, the animal would not be
able to preform gaseous exchange. Some adaptations are only temporary and some
are permanent, this can be caused by the animal living at different altitudes.
The two animals that the respiratory systems have adapted most are the llama
(llama glama) and the deer mouse (peromuscus
maniculatus).
Hypoxia is a term used to describe the lower amount of oxygen
available at a higher altitude. At high altitudes, there is a lower atmospheric
pressure which inhibits oxygen diffusion into the animal’s lungs. This means
less oxyhemoglobin is produced and less oxygen transported to the animal’s
organs and tissues. The effect of having less oxygen delivered would be less
energy, a build up of waste gasses and potential suffocation as the cells will
die if not enough oxygen is received. The llama is able to live at higher
altitudes due to their increased oxygen intake. The way the llama has adapted
to increase its oxygen uptake in high altitudes is by decreasing a phosphate
called diphosphoglycerate (DPG) in their red blood cells. Its purpose is to
control the oxygen movement between red blood cells and body tissues. The more
DPG in the llama’s red blood cells means less oxygen is delivered to the
tissues, meaning the less DPG means more oxygen diffusion. This
is shown by the graph above, the dissociation curve moves to the left meaning
the affinity (attraction or bonding rate) between haemoglobin and oxygen is more
saturated when there is less DPG.
available at a higher altitude. At high altitudes, there is a lower atmospheric
pressure which inhibits oxygen diffusion into the animal’s lungs. This means
less oxyhemoglobin is produced and less oxygen transported to the animal’s
organs and tissues. The effect of having less oxygen delivered would be less
energy, a build up of waste gasses and potential suffocation as the cells will
die if not enough oxygen is received. The llama is able to live at higher
altitudes due to their increased oxygen intake. The way the llama has adapted
to increase its oxygen uptake in high altitudes is by decreasing a phosphate
called diphosphoglycerate (DPG) in their red blood cells. Its purpose is to
control the oxygen movement between red blood cells and body tissues. The more
DPG in the llama’s red blood cells means less oxygen is delivered to the
tissues, meaning the less DPG means more oxygen diffusion. This
is shown by the graph above, the dissociation curve moves to the left meaning
the affinity (attraction or bonding rate) between haemoglobin and oxygen is more
saturated when there is less DPG.
Deer mice are also adapted in this way like the llama although
their affinity to oxygen and haemoglobin is stronger meaning they can extract
oxygen from areas with lower pressure value (P50) meaning they can live at
higher altitudes. Deer mice are also able to live at lower altitudes, like the
llama, as they can increase the amount of DPG they produce, inhibiting the
affinity of oxygen as there is a higher pressure and saturation of oxygen. The
graph to the left shows the deer mouse’s oxygen levels at a higher altitude to show a
dissociation shift to the left, much like the llama. This adaptation is temporary as the level of DPG can be changed.
their affinity to oxygen and haemoglobin is stronger meaning they can extract
oxygen from areas with lower pressure value (P50) meaning they can live at
higher altitudes. Deer mice are also able to live at lower altitudes, like the
llama, as they can increase the amount of DPG they produce, inhibiting the
affinity of oxygen as there is a higher pressure and saturation of oxygen. The
graph to the left shows the deer mouse’s oxygen levels at a higher altitude to show a
dissociation shift to the left, much like the llama. This adaptation is temporary as the level of DPG can be changed.
Both the deer mouse and the llama have a high concentration of
haemoglobin in their erythrocytes (red blood cells). The more haemoglobin means
more oxygen can be extracted and delivered to the tissues from lower pressure
areas therefore aiding respiration at a higher altitude. A reduced heart rate
and lower metabolic rate aid in the animals ability to live at high altitude.
Slowing the heart rate down means the blood is pumping around both animals body
slower, meaning less gaseous exchange needs to happen per minute. This is
particularly helpful at high altitudes as there is a lower concentration of
oxygen in the air. The lowered metabolic rate means less energy is required.
Energy is produced by cells respiring so if less energy is needed and used by
the metabolism that means that again less gaseous exchange needs to take place.
It is found also that more myoglobin is found in the bodily tissues of both the
deer mouse and the llama. Myoglobin is the protein which enables oxygen to be
stored in tissues in the body. An increased number of stores means an increased
amount of oxygen in the tissues which enables things like muscles to move for
longer periods of time without needing extra oxygen.
haemoglobin in their erythrocytes (red blood cells). The more haemoglobin means
more oxygen can be extracted and delivered to the tissues from lower pressure
areas therefore aiding respiration at a higher altitude. A reduced heart rate
and lower metabolic rate aid in the animals ability to live at high altitude.
Slowing the heart rate down means the blood is pumping around both animals body
slower, meaning less gaseous exchange needs to happen per minute. This is
particularly helpful at high altitudes as there is a lower concentration of
oxygen in the air. The lowered metabolic rate means less energy is required.
Energy is produced by cells respiring so if less energy is needed and used by
the metabolism that means that again less gaseous exchange needs to take place.
It is found also that more myoglobin is found in the bodily tissues of both the
deer mouse and the llama. Myoglobin is the protein which enables oxygen to be
stored in tissues in the body. An increased number of stores means an increased
amount of oxygen in the tissues which enables things like muscles to move for
longer periods of time without needing extra oxygen.
Although the deer mice located at different altitudes are the
same species, they have some different adaptations. It is shown that the mice
have a different haemoglobin structure. The mice at high altitudes have unstable
haemoglobin molecules which attract to oxygen more. The mice at lower altitudes
have a more stable haemoglobin that is not as attracted to oxygen as it is more
readily available.
same species, they have some different adaptations. It is shown that the mice
have a different haemoglobin structure. The mice at high altitudes have unstable
haemoglobin molecules which attract to oxygen more. The mice at lower altitudes
have a more stable haemoglobin that is not as attracted to oxygen as it is more
readily available.
More permanent respiratory adaptations would be the lung capacity
of the llama for example. The llama has an increased lung capacity meaning more
air can be breathed in at one time, aiding in the slower heart rate as the lungs
are able to cope with the fewer amount of breaths. The more air in each breath
saves the llama energy therefore not wasting oxygen which is not as saturated at
higher altitudes. A larger lung capacity means the llama is less likely to need
to go into anaerobic respiration and use up the vital myoglobin stores of oxygen
in the llama’s muscles. This is very important because in order to regain the
amount of oxygen lost from anaerobic respiration it would take a long time and
in that time frame the llama may lose cells due to them not being able to
respire and the llama will have a higher chance of falling ill.
of the llama for example. The llama has an increased lung capacity meaning more
air can be breathed in at one time, aiding in the slower heart rate as the lungs
are able to cope with the fewer amount of breaths. The more air in each breath
saves the llama energy therefore not wasting oxygen which is not as saturated at
higher altitudes. A larger lung capacity means the llama is less likely to need
to go into anaerobic respiration and use up the vital myoglobin stores of oxygen
in the llama’s muscles. This is very important because in order to regain the
amount of oxygen lost from anaerobic respiration it would take a long time and
in that time frame the llama may lose cells due to them not being able to
respire and the llama will have a higher chance of falling ill.