Final answer:
Small mammals and birds are more affected by a low volume to surface area ratio due to their higher rate of heat loss relative to their body mass, impacting their survival in environmental temperature variations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The volume to surface area ratio has a significant impact on the survival of organisms, especially in relation to how they interact with their environment. Specifically, a lower surface area to volume ratio is detrimental as it results in a small amount of environmental volume explored per unit of organism. In contrast, organisms with a high surface area to volume ratio may explore a larger environmental volume relative to their size.
According to Olden, Hogan, and Zanden (2007), small fish are particularly at risk due to size-biased extinction risks. Additionally, smaller organisms, including small mammals and birds, lose heat faster than larger ones because of their greater surface area relative to their mass, affecting their survival in varying temperatures. Furthermore, environmental changes like increasing acidity can dissolve the shells of small aquatic organisms, such as mollusks and pteropods, impacting food chains and ecosystems.