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

Features of the gastrulation, Features of the Gastrulation The signifi...

Features of the Gastrulation The significant features of the gastrulation are: a) Proteins of many new types that were not present in the egg or blastula begin to be synthe

Vertebrates, i need examples of animals that belongs to vertevrate pisces

i need examples of animals that belongs to vertevrate pisces

What are the major morphological features of birds, Q What are the major mo...

Q What are the major morphological features of birds? Birds are animals that present aerodynamic bodies covered with feathers, pneumatic bones, anterior limbs transformed into

What is the disease caused by dietary iodine deficiency, Q. What are few ex...

Q. What are few examples of mineral salts from the diet that act as coenzymes? Magnesium, copper and zinc are examples of biological coenzymes. Q. What is the disease cause

Which type of molecule does each of these enzymes break, Besides the pancre...

Besides the pancreatic juice in the intestine there is the releasing of the enteric juice that having digestive enzymes too. What are these enzymes and which type of molecule does

Common endocrine disorders, COMMON ENDOCRINE DISORDERS: We  shall  foc...

COMMON ENDOCRINE DISORDERS: We  shall  focus on  two conditions Diabetes mellitus and Diabetes inspidus.  Diabetes Mellitus  Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disorder of gl

Explain the cost utility analysis, Explain the Cost Utility Analysis? C...

Explain the Cost Utility Analysis? Cost utility analysis: Cost utility analysis provides for measurement of health outcomes for a given cost. The health outcomes are measured q

Explain about the serum vitamin b12 assay, Explain about the Serum vitamin ...

Explain about the Serum vitamin B12 assay? Serum vitamin B 12 assay: The vitamin B 12 content of serum can be determined.  A serum level of 12 deficiency.

How are metarterioles different from arterioles, How are metarterioles diff...

How are metarterioles different from arterioles? Explain how fenestrated capillaries are different than continuous capillaries in terms of their structure and function.

How do sponges try to protect themselves against harm, How do sponges try t...

How do sponges try to protect themselves against harm from the environment? Is that method efficient or rudimentary? Sponges can close their pores to avoid the entrance of wate

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