Energy storage, Biology

Assignment Help:

Energy Storage

As we said above, food intake and energy expenditure for animals is approximately equal. If energy expenditure exceeds food intake, then the excess energy is taken up by utilisation of body fat. However, if food intake is excess, then the surplus is stored as fat irrespective of the kind of food eaten. Excess carbohydrates are changed to fats and accordingly RQ exceeds 1. This is because fats contain relatively less oxygen and the excess oxygen of carbohydrates is used in the metabolism. This reduces the oxygen uptake and the respiratory carbon dioxide, oxygen ratio is increased. For this reason fat is ideal storage material for energy. It is much lighter and yields twice as much energy as carbohydrates.

Migratory birds that may have to fly more than 1000 km non-stop, carry fat as 40% to 50% of their body weight. Nonetheless, some carbohydrates are important in energy storage. Glycogen a starch-like carbohydrate polymer is stored as granules in the skeletal muscles and liver of vertebrates. During heavy muscular exercise when blood does not deliver sufficient oxygen to meet demands, glycogen provides the energy. It is broken down directly into glucose-6-phosphate, providing fuel for carbohydrate metabolism more directly than does fat, On the other hand, many animals that do not move about, also store glycogen as excess energy source. For example, clams, oysters and many intestinal parasites like Ascaris use glycogen as the storage material. These animals have to face anaerobic conditions and in such situations glycogen breaks down to acetic acid to yield energy.


Related Discussions:- Energy storage

Non symbiotic nitrogen fixers - nutrient cycles, Non Symbiotic Nitrogen Fix...

Non Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixers - Nutrient Cycles There are certain groups of free living bacteria both aerobic and anaerobic and blue green algae that fix nitrogen. Aerobic nit

Define regulation of amino acid levels in the blood, Define Regulation of a...

Define Regulation of amino acid levels in the blood? Regulation of amino acid levels in the blood: Vitamin D helps to prevent loss  of amino acids through the kidney and thus

Explain the functionality of central nervous system, Explain the functional...

Explain the functionality of Central Nervous System ? The central nervous system is the center of the nervous system, receiving impulses from, and sending impulses to, the per

Explain nephrotic syndrome, Explain Nephrotic syndrome Nephrotic syndr...

Explain Nephrotic syndrome Nephrotic syndrome :- Kidney disease due to degeneration of renal tubule.

How is the smoothing tendency of cornea functioned, How is the smoothing te...

How is the smoothing tendency of cornea functioned? Smoothing tendency: In health and in disease condition the epitheliurm has a strong tendency to smoothen the underlyin

Cinemicrography, Cinemicrography Earlier it was impossible to follow the ...

Cinemicrography Earlier it was impossible to follow the evenvts within the cell due to: i) non-visibility of cell organelles under a light microscope, ii) maintenance of cells

Explain the skeletal system, Explain the Skeletal System? Skeletal Sys...

Explain the Skeletal System? Skeletal System: The support framework, or skeleton, in the human body is composed of mostly hard mineral substances. Unlike crustaceans or insec

Determine the term epitheliomuscular cell, Determine the term Epitheliomusc...

Determine the term Epitheliomuscular cell. Cells which line outer surface of cnidarians. These cell have two functions: first is to form the outer body covering of animal, seco

Signs and symptoms diabetic ketoacidosis, Q. Signs and Symptoms diabetic ke...

Q. Signs and Symptoms diabetic ketoacidosis? The following are the signs and symptoms of DKA: 1) Increased heart rate (tachycardia) 2) Low blood pressure 3) Dehydratio

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd