Chosen Organism: Fish

Research: Fish have a respiratory system that primarily uses gills to extract oxygen from
water.

Similarities:

1. Gas Exchange: Both humans and fish exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide with the
environment. In humans, this occurs in the lungs, while in fish, it occurs in the gills.
• Explanation: This similarity exists because both organisms need oxygen for
cellular respiration and must remove carbon dioxide to avoid toxicity.
2. Blood Transport: Both systems transport gases through the blood. Humans have
hemoglobin in red blood cells to carry oxygen, while fish also have hemoglobin for
the same purpose.
• Explanation: Efficient transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide is crucial for
meeting metabolic demands.
3. Respiratory Surfaces: Both humans and fish have thin respiratory surfaces that
facilitate gas exchange. In humans, these are the alveoli, and in fish, these are the
gill filaments.
• Explanation: Thin respiratory surfaces increase the efficiency of gas
exchange by minimizing the distance gases must diffuse.

Differences:

4. Respiratory Medium: Humans breathe air, while fish extract oxygen from water.
• Explanation: These differences arise because of the distinct environments
the organisms live in; air and water have different properties affecting how
oxygen is obtained.
5. Respiratory Structure: Humans have lungs with alveoli, while fish have gills with
gill filaments.
• Explanation: Different structural adaptations have evolved to optimize the
extraction of oxygen from the organism’s respective medium (air or water).
6. Breathing Mechanism: Humans use a diaphragm and rib muscles to create
negative pressure for inhalation, while fish use a buccal pump mechanism to move
water over their gills.
• Explanation: The mechanics of moving air versus water require different
physiological adaptations.
Conclusion:

Understanding the diversity of respiratory systems in the animal kingdom highlights the
evolutionary adaptations that enable different organisms to thrive in various environments.
There seem to be both significant similarities and differences, driven by the fundamental
need for gas exchange but adapted to specific habitats.

With global warming, future adaptations might include changes in respiratory efficiency or
structures to cope with altered oxygen levels and temperatures in various environments.