When bar-headed geese fly at very high altitudes (possibly over Mount Everest!), they breathe very thin air where the partial pressure of oxygen is very low compared to that at sea level. Which of the following adaptions would help the geese efficiently exchange gases when flying at high altitudes?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hemoglobin with high affinity for oxygen would allow the geese to efficiently pick up as much oxygen as possible from the thin air at high altitudes. Hemoglobin with low affinity for oxygen would make it harder for the geese to pick up oxygen, and hemoglobin with high affinity for carbon dioxide or low affinity for carbon dioxide would not directly affect gas exchange with oxygen.

When Bar-Headed Geese Fly at Very High Altitudes (Possibly Over