Back to the full dot-point answer
WABiologyQuick questions
Unit 4: Surviving in a Changing Environment
Quick questions on Osmoregulation and excretion: WACE Year 12 Biology
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the problem of water balance?Show answer
Cells work properly only when the surrounding fluid has a stable water and solute concentration. Too little water and cells shrink; too much and they swell. Animals constantly gain water (from drinking and food) and lose it (in urine, sweat, breath and faeces), so they must actively balance the two. This balancing is osmoregulation.
What is the kidney's role?Show answer
The kidney is the main osmoregulatory organ in mammals. It works in two broad steps:
What are adaptations in Australian animals?Show answer
Many Australian animals are adapted to conserve water. Desert species often have very efficient kidneys that produce highly concentrated urine, are active at night to reduce water loss, and obtain much of their water from food. These adaptations let them survive in arid environments where free water is scarce, an example of physiology and behaviour combining for survival.
Have a question we have not covered?
This dot-point answer is short enough that we have not extracted many short questions yet. Read the full dot-point answer or ask Mo, our study assistant, in the chat for follow ups.