Which risk increases when a bird's air sacs are compromised during high-altitude flight?

💡 Explanation

When air sacs are compromised at high altitudes, reduced surface area for oxygen absorption via countercurrent exchange occurs because of damaged membranes, limiting oxygen uptake. Therefore, hypoxia results,rather than dehydration, hyperthermia, or barotrauma which require alternative physiological mechanisms related to water loss, heat regulation, and differential pressures.

• Which outcome occurs when marine mammals dive deeply, causing alveolar collapse?
• Which outcome impairs arousal from torpor despite sufficient hypothalamic triggers?
• Which outcome occurs when a basking sea lion experiences overheating during rest?
• Which outcome disrupts opercular pumping performance when dissolved oxygen declines during hypoxia?
• Which outcome results when Casparian strip dysfunction occurs?
• Which aerodynamic effect increases when a bird utilizes slotted wings during slow, stable flight?