Use the following information and figures to answer the question.
Many terrestrial arthropods exchange gases with their environments by using tracheae, tubes that lead from openings (called spiracles)in the animal's exoskeleton or cuticle directly to the animal's tissues. Some arthropods can control whether their spiracles are opened or closed; opening the spiracles allows the carbon dioxide produced in the tissues to travel down the tracheae and be released outside the animal. Klok et al. measured the carbon dioxide emitted over time (represented by ⱽCO₂)by several species of centipedes. The figures present graphs of their results for two species, Cormocephalus morsitans and Scutigerina weberi.

How would a terrestrial centipede most likely benefit from the ability to close its spiracles? Closing spiracles would ________.
A) allow the centipede to move more quickly
B) allow the centipede to retain more moisture in its tissues
C) allow the centipede to stay warmer
D) allow more oxygen from the environment to reach the centipede's tissues

Question

Use the following information and figures to answer the question.
Many terrestrial arthropods exchange gases with their environments by using tracheae, tubes that lead from openings (called spiracles)in the animal's exoskeleton or cuticle directly to the animal's tissues. Some arthropods can control whether their spiracles are opened or closed; opening the spiracles allows the carbon dioxide produced in the tissues to travel down the tracheae and be released outside the animal. Klok et al. measured the carbon dioxide emitted over time (represented by ⱽCO₂)by several species of centipedes. The figures present graphs of their results for two species, Cormocephalus morsitans and Scutigerina weberi.

How would a terrestrial centipede most likely benefit from the ability to close its spiracles? Closing spiracles would ________.
A) allow the centipede to move more quickly 
B) allow the centipede to retain more moisture in its tissues 
C) allow the centipede to stay warmer 
D) allow more oxygen from the environment to reach the centipede's tissues

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Closing the spiracles would decrease the amount of water loss through evaporation, which is important for a terrestrial arthropod living in a dry environment. It would not affect the centipede's speed or temperature regulation, and would actually decrease the amount of oxygen that reaches the tissues.

Use the Following Information and Figures to Answer the Question