Many vertebrates cope with hypoxia by
A)enlarging the spleen.
B)making more red blood cells.
C)using an alternate respiratory pigment.
D)decreasing hematocrit.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Vertebrates cope with hypoxia by increasing their production of red blood cells, which can carry more oxygen to the tissues. This is known as polycythemia. Enlarging the spleen (A) can help store more red blood cells, but it is not the primary mechanism for coping with hypoxia. Using an alternate respiratory pigment (C) is also a strategy used by some animals, such as hemoglobin in humans and myoglobin in some fish, but this is not the case for all vertebrates. Decreasing hematocrit (D), or the percentage of blood volume that is made up of red blood cells, would be counterproductive in coping with hypoxia.

Many Vertebrates Cope with Hypoxia by