Question

claim - evidence - reasoning
name:
date:
question: which macromolecule - fat (lipid) or sugar (carbohydrate) - is the better choice for the bird to store its long - term - high - efficiency energy supply
claim
write a statement that answers the question.
evidence
provide scientific data from investigations or research to support your claim.
reasoning
explain how the evidence supports the claim. why is your evidence important?

Explanation:

Fat (lipid) is a better long - term, high - efficiency energy storage molecule. Lipids have a higher energy density. For example, when oxidized, lipids produce more ATP (adenosine triphosphate) per unit mass compared to sugars. This means that for the same amount of storage space, lipids can provide more energy over a longer period. Birds need to store energy for long flights or periods of food scarcity. The high energy density of lipids allows them to carry a relatively large amount of energy without a huge increase in body mass.

Answer:

Claim: Fat (lipid) is the better choice for the bird to store its long - term, high - efficiency energy supply.
Evidence: Lipids have a higher energy density. On average, lipids yield about 9 kcal/g when metabolized, while carbohydrates (sugars) yield about 4 kcal/g.
Reasoning: The evidence supports the claim because the higher energy density of lipids means that a bird can store more energy in a smaller mass. For a bird, minimizing mass is crucial for flight. If a bird were to store the same amount of energy as lipids in the form of sugar, it would need to carry a much larger mass (since sugar has lower energy density). This larger mass would make flight more energetically costly. So, the high energy - to - mass ratio (energy density) of lipids is important for a bird's long - term, high - efficiency energy storage needs.