Explain why there is a change in the rate of blood flow through the digestive system during exercise.

During exercise, there is a higher need for the working muscle to have oxygen for respiration in order to generate energy to carry out its function. Therefore, there is more blood flow required to the muscle which carries oxygen. This blood flow can be diverted away from different parts of the body which don't require as much blood flow in that moment. During exercise there isn't a need for high amounts of blood flow to the digestive system and so this is diverted to the muscle. Hence, there is decreased rate of blood flow through the digestive system during exercise.