Elephant seals from Antarctica dive into the ocean more than 1,500 meters deep at a time, nearly a mile. A seal can stay underwater for an hour or longer. In order to do that, the seal stores oxygen in its blood cells that is slowly released as it dives. The seal does not expend any extra energy releasing the oxygen stored in its blood cells. Do you think passive or active transport is at work in the blood cells of the elephant seal? Explain your answer.

Question

Biology

Shawn Matthews

8 June, 21:50

Elephant seals from Antarctica dive into the ocean more than 1,500 meters deep at a time, nearly a mile. A seal can stay underwater for an hour or longer. In order to do that, the seal stores oxygen in its blood cells that is slowly released as it dives. The seal does not expend any extra energy releasing the oxygen stored in its blood cells. Do you think passive or active transport is at work in the blood cells of the elephant seal? Explain your answer.

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Answers (2)

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Uriah Liu · Answer 1

This is passive transport. Because the seal does not expend any extra energy releasing oxygen, it cannot be active transport, which is the opposite. Passive transport is where molecules move from an area of high concentration to low concentration without using energy. If it was active transport, the seal would become tired and could possibly drown.

Regan Chen · Answer 2

This is passive transport. Because the seal does not expend any extra energy releasing oxygen, it cannot be active transport, which is the opposite. Passive transport is where molecules move from an area of high concentration to low concentration without using energy. If it was active transport, the seal would become tired and have to constantly find food.