Figure 33.2 Use the Following Information When Answering the Corresponding Question(s)

Multiple Choice

Figure 33.2
Use the following information when answering the corresponding question(s) .
Many terrestrial arthropods exchange gases with their environments by using tracheae,tubes that lead from openings (called spiracles) in the animal's exoskeleton or cuticle directly to the animal's tissues.Some arthropods can control whether their spiracles are opened or closed;opening the spiracles allows the carbon dioxide produced in the tissues to travel down the tracheae and be released outside the animal.Klok et al.measured the carbon dioxide emitted over time (represented by VCO₂) by several species of centipedes.Figure 33.2 presents graphs of their results for two species,Cormocephalus morsitans and Scutigerina weberi.(C.J.Klok,R.D.Mercer,and S.L.Chown.2002.Discontinuous gas-exchange in centipedes and its convergent evolution in tracheated arthropods.Journal of Experimental Biology 205:1019-29. )

-How would a terrestrial centipede most likely benefit from the ability to close its spiracles?

A) Closing spiracles would allow the centipede to move more quickly.
B) Closing spiracles would allow the centipede to retain more moisture in its tissues.
C) Closing spiracles would allow the centipede to stay warmer.
D) Closing spiracles would allow more oxygen from the environment to reach the centipede's tissues.
E) The centipede would not benefit at all.