Describe how the body temperature of the iguana affects its oxygen consumption - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 6 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 6
Describe how the body temperature of the iguana affects its oxygen consumption.
Figure 11 shows an iguana on a rock in the sunshine.
Figure 12 shows the results.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Describe how the body temperature of the iguana affects its oxygen consumption - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 6 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe how the body temperature of the iguana affects its oxygen consumption.
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Answer
As the body temperature of the iguana increases, the rate of chemical reactions within its body also rises. This is due to the temperature's influence on enzyme activity, which accelerates metabolic processes. Consequently, higher temperatures lead to an increase in respiration rates.
More respiration means that the iguana requires more oxygen to fulfill the energy needs of its cells. Therefore, as the body temperature of the iguana rises, its oxygen consumption also increases.