efficiency of gaseous exchange (breathing) between insect, frog, fish & mammal (1 Viewer)

[Brontecat]

I’m having trouble with this question ‘Evaluate the efficiency, with respect to the surface area, of the gaseous exchange surfaces in an insect, a fish, a frog and a mammal’.

I understand that:
In insects the air is passed through a network of tubes deep into the insects tissue, enters through spiracles. The trachea is lined with chitin which is impermeable, this keeps the airway open. The trachea then divides into tracheoles.

In fish water is taken through the mouth and is released through the gills. The gill contains many stacked layers as to provide a large surface area.

In frogs the supply comes from just under their skin, this ensures that fases are efficiently exchanged through the skin surface.

In mammals air enters through the mouth, passes down the trachea and into the lungs. The alveoli provide a large respiratory surface to ensure that gases are readily diffused.

What I can’t decide is which one would be the most efficient. Any help would be appreciated J

 

[Deer]

Do you need to decide the most efficient though? Aren't each of them best suited to their particular environment?

I don't know, we're not up to this in bio yet.