One Possible Reason That There Are Not Any Really Large

question 25

Multiple Choice

One possible reason that there are not any really large insects currently living on Earth is that

• A)gas exchange across their moist skin surfaces cannot support the metabolic needs of a large body.
• B)their lungs never evolved to be as highly branched as a mammal's.
• C)their gills do not have as many lamellae as fish gills.
• D)the bulk flow of air through their tracheal tubes would be more difficult the larger the body and longer the tracheal tubes.
• E)they do not have as many papulae as echinoderms.

---

Definitions:

Photosynthetic Production

The creation of organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water by plants, algae, and certain bacteria, using sunlight as an energy source, essentially the output of photosynthesis.

Ant Species

Varieties within the family Formicidae, characterized by their social organization and roles in ecosystems.

Warm Season

The period of the year characterized by higher temperatures, typically resulting in increased biological activity and growth in many organisms.

Harsh Conditions

Environmental situations that are extreme and potentially detrimental to living organisms, such as high salinity, extreme temperatures, or low oxygen levels.