Final answer:
The concentration gradient of oxygen and carbon dioxide between an amoeba and the environment is maintained through diffusion. Oxygen and carbon dioxide move across the amoeba's membrane passively, due to differences in concentration, to maintain homeostasis.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Concentration Gradient Is Maintained in Amoebas
The concentration gradient of oxygen and carbon dioxide between an amoeba and its environment is maintained through diffusion. In simple terms, diffusion allows these gases to move across the amoeba’s cell membrane from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration naturally, without the use of energy. Since amoebas are microscopic, single-celled organisms, their surface area to volume ratio is high, enabling sufficient gas exchange through the cell membrane to support their metabolic needs.
Oxygen is used up rapidly during cellular metabolism, leading to a lower concentration of O₂ inside the cell compared to the outside environment. Therefore, oxygen will diffuse into the cell. Similarly, CO₂ levels increase inside the cell as a byproduct of metabolism, causing carbon dioxide to diffuse out from the higher concentration inside the cell to the lower concentration in the surrounding environment. This passive transport is critical for maintaining homeostasis within the cell, ensuring that the necessary conditions are met for the amoeba to survive and function properly.