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

Craninal nerves, Craninal nerves: Cranial nerves take their origin f...

Craninal nerves: Cranial nerves take their origin from different areas of brain  Some of them are sensory, some are motor and a few are mixed nerves. There are 12 pair

Explain chilling temperatures - method of food preservation, Explain chilli...

Explain chilling temperatures - method of food Preservation? (a) Cellar storage temperatures (about 15° C): It is usually used for the storage of surplus foods like root crops,

How are antivenoms produced, Q. How are antivenoms produced? Why are antive...

Q. How are antivenoms produced? Why are antivenoms an example of passive immunization? Antivenoms are obtained by the following process: the venom (antigen) is inoculated into

Describe the functionality of pectin, Functionality Pectins are mainly ...

Functionality Pectins are mainly used as gelling agents, but can also act as a  thickener, water binder and stabilizer. Low methoxyl pectins ( 2+ ions. Highly acetylated pecti

What are the coverings of the body, Q. Besides the skin what are the other ...

Q. Besides the skin what are the other coverings of the body? Besides the skin there are other covering tissues made of epithelium over other tissue layers. They are the tissue

State the phases of soil genesis, State the phases of soil genesis Soil...

State the phases of soil genesis Soil genesis embodies two distinct phases. One is weathering that involves disintegration and decomposition of rocks and minerals, the other is

Describe the importance of neuropsychological tests, Describe the importanc...

Describe the importance of Neuropsychological tests Neuropsychological tests are generally thought of as assessment instrument for a variety of cognitive, perceptual, and motor

Hydra – metazoa, Hydra – Metazoa The animals of phyla Cnidaria and Cte...

Hydra – Metazoa The animals of phyla Cnidaria and Ctenophora are made up of only two germ layers: ectoderm which forms the outer covering of the animal and endoderm which is t

Explain about the deficiency of riboflavin, Explain about the Deficiency of...

Explain about the Deficiency of Riboflavin? Riboflavin deficiency results in the condition of hypo- or ariboflavinosis, with sore  throat, hyperaemia (condition in which the bl

Explain adverse effects of interferon alfa, Adverse Effects Of interferon a...

Adverse Effects Of interferon alfa Intramuscular or subcutaneous injection of interferon is commonly associated with an influenza-like syndrome, especially during the first wee

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