Why would a smaller eukaryotic cell carry out respiration more actively than a larger one?

A smaller eukaryotic cell would carry out respiration more actively than a larger one primarily due to a larger surface area to volume ratio. This ratio is crucial because it influences how efficiently a cell can exchange materials with its environment.

In smaller cells, the larger surface area relative to their volume allows for more efficient diffusion of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products across the cell membrane. This means that smaller cells can take in the necessary resources and expel waste more quickly and effectively than larger cells, leading to a more active rate of cellular respiration. This efficiency is particularly important because the energy produced through respiration needs to meet the metabolic demands of the cell.

Larger cells, conversely, have a smaller surface area relative to their volume, which can hinder the exchange of materials and slow down metabolic processes, including respiration. As a result, smaller cells can sustain higher rates of respiration and energy production relative to their size compared to larger cells.