Advantage of Terrestrial Animals over Aquatic Animals in Obtaining Oxygen for Respiration

Terrestrial animals are those that live on land, while aquatic animals are those that live in water. Both types of animals need oxygen for respiration, but terrestrial animals have an advantage over aquatic animals in obtaining oxygen.

Greater availability of oxygen in air
One of the main advantages of terrestrial animals is that they have greater access to oxygen in the air. The concentration of oxygen in air is about 21%, while the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water is much lower, usually ranging from 1 to 10 mg/L. This means that air-breathing animals can take in more oxygen per breath than aquatic animals, which have to extract oxygen from the water.

Efficient respiratory system
Terrestrial animals have evolved efficient respiratory systems to take in oxygen from the air. For example, birds have lungs that are much more efficient than those of mammals, allowing them to extract more oxygen from each breath. In addition, many terrestrial animals have developed specialized organs such as gills, which increase the surface area available for oxygen exchange.

Less competition for oxygen
Another advantage of terrestrial animals is that they face less competition for oxygen than aquatic animals. In water, many organisms are competing for the same pool of oxygen, which can limit the amount of oxygen available to each organism. Terrestrial animals, on the other hand, have access to a virtually unlimited supply of oxygen in the air.

Ability to regulate breathing
Finally, terrestrial animals have the ability to regulate their breathing to meet their oxygen needs. For example, if they are exerting themselves, they can breathe more rapidly to take in more oxygen. Aquatic animals, on the other hand, have less control over their breathing because they have to rely on the flow of water to bring oxygen to their gills.

Conclusion
In conclusion, terrestrial animals have several advantages over aquatic animals in obtaining oxygen for respiration. They have greater access to oxygen in the air, more efficient respiratory systems, less competition for oxygen, and the ability to regulate their breathing. These adaptations have allowed terrestrial animals to thrive in environments where oxygen is abundant, while aquatic animals have had to develop specialized adaptations to extract oxygen from water.

the rate of breathing is slower in terrestrial organism as compared to aquatic organism . this is due to the fact that in water the amount of oxygen is less as compared to air while in aquatic organism the rate of breathing is faster.