This lesson focuses on the diffusion of gas molecules across the cuticle membrane of sea spider legs and the role body size plays in the ability of sea spiders to uptake gases. Students construct model sea spider legs of varying diameters and use them to investigate the relationship between surface area-to-volume ratios and diffusion.
This video is one in a series of Antarctic Answers that were recorded for showing to high schoolers. The video is 29 seconds long and could be showed as a warm up question about how to become a researcher.