Question

1. generate your own questions

based on your reading, write 3 questions you would like to investigate further about crustaceans:
1.
2.
3.

1. size and diversity investigation

analyze the following information from the text:

• 67,000 described species exist
• size range: 0.1 mm to 3.8 m leg span
• mass range: microscopic to 20 kg

questions to investigate:
a) calculate the size ratio between the largest and smallest crustaceans:
b) why might such extreme size variation exist within one group of animals?
c) what advantages might very small crustaceans have? what about very large ones?

Explanation:

Step1: Identify size values

Smallest size is $0.1$ mm and largest is $3.8$ m. Convert 3.8 m to mm: $3.8\times1000 = 3800$ mm.

Step2: Calculate size ratio

Ratio = $\frac{\text{largest size}}{\text{smallest size}}=\frac{3800}{0.1}=38000$.

Answer:

a) 38000
b) Extreme size variation can exist due to different ecological niches. Small - sized crustaceans can access micro - habitats and have lower energy requirements, while large ones can have fewer predators and be more competitive for resources in larger habitats.
c) Very small crustaceans can hide easily from predators in small crevices and have lower food requirements. They can also reproduce quickly. Very large crustaceans can be top - level predators in their environment, have better access to larger food sources, and may be more successful in mating competitions.