2: Adaptations to Aquatic Environments Flashcards
Adaptation
evolutionary process; obtain characteristics to help organism be best suited for envr.
Abiotic Factors
energy from sunlight, nutrients from soil and water
96% of all elements:
hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen
energy
ability to do work (potential and kinetic)
1st law of thermodynamics
conservation of energy
2nd law of thermodynamics
heat (entropy) is increasing; energy disorder increases
Water:
great solvent and most abundant (71% of earth’s surface area)
adaptations of whales and penguins
streamlined body for swimming, ↓ metabolism to ↓ demand for oxygen, lots of blubber for warmth
3 basic tasks of all living things:
- Acquire resources
- Eliminate waste
- Reproduce
Surface tension
water molecules are attracted to each other; creating elastic texture
Capillary action
water molecules are attracted to surfaces
- Animals have to break surface tension to get out of water
Water + salt =
freezing temp ↓, boiling point ↑
water has a ___ specific heat
high
- transfers heat quickly
density of water >/< air
water»_space; air (buoyant)
aquatic animals < dense than water =
air-filled pocket to help sink
- ex: animals; divers using air-filled vests for skin
aquatic animals > dense than water =
use oil/fat to float
- ex: algae w/ oil droplets to float
Viscosity
thickness of fluid; causes resistance
- adaptations: streamlined bodies
Solubility
water = highly soluble
- Bc of…highly polar hydrogen bonds = highly attracted to polar compounds
Saturation
mineral upper limit/bound of solubility in water
- ↑ w/ ↑ temp
Hydrogen ions
extremely reactive = dissolve minerals from rocks/soil
acidity
concentration of H+ ions in solution
pH
measure of acidity
- pH = - log [H+]
Acid deposition(rain)
acid deposited as rain/snow/gases attach to surfaces of plants/soil/water
- causes: leaches calcium and soil nutrients, causes aluminum to diccolve in water
- (-) affects nutrient uptake = tree/plant death
Osmoregulation
mechanisms to maintain solute balance in organism
Hyperosmotic
organism has > solute concentration than surrounding water
- Freshwater animals, fish
- Hypoosmotic
organism has < solute concentration than surrounding water
- saltwater animals: whales, sardines, planktons, sharks, rays
concurrent circulation
2 fluids in same direction; heat/substances exchanges through barrier
anaerobic
w/o oxygen
aerobic
w/ oxygen
Q10
ratio of rate of physiological process at 1 temp to decreasing temp by 10°
Thermophilic
heat-loving bacteria; thrive at high temps
Thermal pollution
discharging water too high for aquatic life
Glyceral
prevents hydrogens bonds of water to freeze unless temps are way below freezing
Glycoproteins
can be used to lower freezing temps of water
Supercooling
glycoproteins in blood impede ice/crystals forming
- ex: in antifreeze and fish
Optimum environmental Conditions
narrow range of best envir. conditions for organisms
Thermal optimum
range of temps best for organisms
Isozymes
diff forms of enzyme to catalyze reaction
Salt water contains a lot of
Na+, Cl-, Mg2+, SO4
fresh water contains a lot of
Ca2+, HCO3-, and SO4
why do organisms need nitrogen and phosphates?
for DNA
terrestrial plants have a difficult time acquiring ___.
inorganic carbon
what is the pH of water?
7 (neutral)
pH less than 7 =
acidic
pH greater than 7 =
basic
CO2 diffuses ___ through water, plants use CO2 ___
slowly; rapidly
goal of countercurrent circulation
O2 concentration in water is always greater than blood
fish that need a lot of oxygen live in…
cold environments (more O2 in the water)
fish that don’t need a lot of oxygen can live in…
warmer environments (less O2 in the water)
