Final answer:
A shrew has a larger surface area relative to volume in comparison to a blue whale, due to the concept that smaller organisms or cells have a higher surface area-to-volume ratio which facilitates more efficient nutrient and waste exchange with their environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In comparison with a blue whale, a shrew has a larger surface area relative to volume. This is related to the concept that as the size of an organism or cell increases, its surface area-to-volume ratio decreases. Therefore, smaller organisms like shrews have a higher surface area-to-volume ratio allowing for more efficient exchange of nutrients and wastes with their environment.
As explained in cell biology, a larger cell has less surface area relative to its volume than a smaller cell. This is because the surface area increases by the square of the scaling factor, while the volume increases by the cube of the scaling factor. Therefore, in terms of cellular level, a shrew's cells likely have larger surface area and smaller volume, resulting in a higher surface area-to-volume ratio compared to the cells of a larger organism like the blue whale.