EXAM Flashcards
Migrating salmon during their smolt stage experience a hyper osmotic environment (T/F, explain)
True, the content of solutes/ions in the saltwater is higher than the internal environment of the fish
salmon are faced with a variety of challenges as part of their anadromous migration (list two of these challenges)
- disease and parasites
- predators
- temperature changes
- fisheries
- salinity changes
- river flow and ocean currents
To stay strong during migration, adult salmon continuously feed throughout the journey to their natal stream. T/F Explain.
False – upon entering the freshwater natal stream salmon stop eating all together. They go into a starvation mode. All nutrients needed for the migration and sexual maturity provided by internal stores from the sea run.
Which of the following is NOT an application of the brood pouch in seahorses during gestation?
A) waste removal B) creation of eggs for reproduction C) gas exchange D) Osmoregultion E) Physical protection from external environment
B) creation of eggs for reproduction
Female seahorses are lager than male seahorses, which is an adaption that allows them to be better suited for carrying many fertilized eggs during pregnancy. T/F Explain.
Answer: False, Male seahorses are larger than female seahorses which is an adaption that helps the male seahorse carry more fertilized eggs during pregnancy.
Which of the following is NOT an adaptation that help seahorses overcome their physiological challenges of reproduction?
D. Female seahorses are able to osmoregulate their brood pouch very effectively during pregnancy which increases the survival rate of offspring.
Zebrafish have been seen to survice pH levels as low as pH _____
4
Zebra fish are native to ?
Southeast asia
Water ecosystem acidification negatively affects biodiversity. T/F. Explain.
TRUE (Increased acidification results in a decrease of biodiversity due to the low survivability of acid-sensitive organisms)
. What Order does the Electric Eel belong to?
A) Siluriformes (Catfish)
B) Gymnotiformes (knifefish)
C) Charactiformes (Ray-finned fishes)
D)Heterodontiformes (Bullhead sharks)
E) None of the Above
B) Gymnotiformes (knifefish)
What is the main reason as to why electric eels move above the surface of the water to shock predators?
An attack on the surface of the predator results in a more direct shock, and therefore a greater injury
Which of the following is not one of the main reasons why eels developed electricity use?
A) Hunting B) Defense against predators C) Communication D) All of the above answers are correct E) None of the above answers are correct
All of the above are correct
The weatherloach is ureotelic. T/F Explain.
Answer: False - The weatherloach excretes waste as ammonia therefore it is ammonotelic
How does the weatherloach deal with drought? A) Respire faster B) Air-breath C) Burrow in mud D) B and C E) None of the above
D) both B and C
In the weatherloach, which organ is used for air breathing?
intestine
Which of the following is an adaptation of cavefish?
Depigmentation
Cavefish exhibit relatively consistent oxygen consumption regardless of the time of day. T/F Explain.
True ( there is a steady oxygen consumption regardless of time of day, no higher requirement at any point)
Eye loss in cavefish initiates a pathway that enlarges the hypothalamus and increases the number of chemosensory receptors on the head. T/F Explain.
True Hypothalamus is increased due to eyeloss, follow tetra via chemosensory adaptation when eyesight isnt present.
What challenge did betta fish need to overcome?
Hypoxia
The Betta fish adapted to hypoxic conditions by having large gills for more efficient oxygen uptake. T/F Explain.
False. The Betta fish adapted to contain the labyrinth organ as a means of dealing with hypoxic water conditions not large gills
Anabantoidei fish (e.g. Betta fish) use bubble nests to catch their food. T/F Explain.
False. The Betta fish make bubble nests for spawning purposes, not to catch food.
How does the mechanism of “counter-current heat exchange” operate in Opah?
Venous blood is the warm blood that will transfer its heat to
the cold arteriole blood in which will operate in opposite directions.
What strategy of thermoregulation is used in Opah?
Endothermy
Which extra-ocular muscle in Opah is involved in heat generation?
Proximal region of lateral rectus (PLRM)
What role does thermal hysteresis play with respects to antifreeze proteins?
Allows for inhibition of ice crystal growth as it lowers freezing point temperature of ice
All antifreeze protein types (AFGP’s, Types I-IV) prefer the same ice crystal plane for binding. T/F. Explain.
False there are 4 different binding planes
How do antifreeze proteins improve survive in fish at polar water temperatures?
- Cryopreservation: Preservation of cells and tissues at low temperatures - Intracellular and extracellular ice formation through the cryopreservation process can damage cells/tissues making them not viable – AFP’s prevent ice growth from damaging cell
Sea lampreys die after spawning? T/F explain
True, shortly after lampreys lay and fertilise their eggs they will die
What kind of migration do lampreys partake in?
Anadromous
Lampreys have what body feature?
a. Gills
b. Jaws
c. Scales
d. Paired fins
e. Toes
A ) Gills
Sex change in clownfish irreversible? T/F Explain.
True sex change in a clownfish is permanant
What type of relationship do sea anemones and clownfish have?
Mutualistic
What strategy do clownfish use to be immune to anemone’s toxins?
produce a coat of mucous
Viviparity is a poor choice for reproducing sharks because at the time of birth the sharks are not fully developed. T/F Explain.
False:
Direct nourishment, Fully developed at birth, Enhanced survival
Which organ(s) differentiate into the placenta-like structure in viviparous sharks?
Yolk sac
Where does internal fertilization take place in viviparous sharks?
Oviduct
Which of the following choices is NOT physiological adaption that occurs during aestivation for African Lungfish?
A. Decreased heart rate (beats per minute) B. Increased blood pressure C. Decreased metabolism D. Formation of mucus sarcophagus E. Suppressed nitrogen waste
Increased blood pressure
Why are lungfish deemed to be model organisms in today’s biology research?
A.Considered to be related to the oldest air breathing vertebrates from fossil evidence
B. Their two pairs of pectoral and pelvic fins are homologous to tetrapod limbs
C. Provide further insight on transition of organisms from water to land
D. B and C
E. All of the above
E. All of the above
African lungfish will excrete nitrogenous waste as ammonia periodically during aestivation. T/F Explain.
False. Supress urine, ammonia waste is converted to urea and is not released until awoken
Which of the following adaptations involves distinct coloration to warn predators?
A. Camouflage B. Aposematic C. Armored pectoral fins D. All of the above E. None of the above
b) Aposematic
The use of venom is not energy demanding to Scorpionfish. T/F Explain.
False. When the Scorpionfish release their venom they are exposed to high energy demand because of their sedentary lifestyle which takes them longer to recover the full amount of venom.
What is the main factor that results in venom production differing between sexes?
Size
Sawfish are considered to be ancestors of shovelnose rays. What characteristics of sawfish resemble those of rays?
A. The first and second dorsal fins B. Spiracles located just behind the eyes C. Pectoral fins connected to the head D. Both B and C E. All of the above
Both B and C
Sawfish are good at sensing prey through what sensory mechanism?
Ampullae of Lorenzini
The sawfishes rostrum contains rows of saw teeth, which are made up of?
Modified versions of denticles
List one similarity and one difference between type I and type II males in the plainfin midshipman.
Similarity: use alternative reproductive tactics.
Difference: Type I males can hum and Type II males cannot, Size difference (Type I male larger than Type II)
Plainfin midshipman do not use their swim bladder to produce sound. T/F Explain.
False, they use drumming muscles on the swim bladder
What are two alternative reproductive strategies that the type II male plainfin midshipman uses to fertilize eggs?
1) Fans sperm from periphery of Type I male nest
2) Sneaks/hides in Type I male nest waiting for female to lay eggs
Pinecone fish have a sound producing organ that helps them hunt for food at night? T/F Explain.
FALSE : Pinecone fish have a light producing organ that helps them hunt for food at night
Pinecone fish hunt during the night because:
They have a light organ which helps them attract plankton
Which of the following do pinecone fish NOT have? A. A light producing organ B. A sound producing organ C. Spine like fins D. Photophore E. Sharp teeth to eat fish
E. Sharp teeth to eat fish
The family Carangidae feature which style of swimming
Carangiform
Caranx ignobilis is highlighted by long filaments trailing off the dorsal and anal fin spines as juveniles. T/F Explain.
True, these decrease in size with age and eventually disappear.
Which form of scales do the Carangidae posess?
small cycloid scales often modified into scutes
The boxfish contains non-mineralized armoured scales. T/F explain?
False. The boxfish contains a mineralized (calcium & phosphorus) armoured carapace which provides protection from predators in reef environments.
Which of the following is correct regarding slow speed swimming of boxfish?
A. Pectoral fins are not used for turning and maneuvering
B. Caudal fin rapidly undulates
C. Caudal fin typically kept tucked on one side
D. Linear straight movements are made
E. All of the above.
C. Caudal fin typically kept tucked on one side
Carapace structure is unique due to a lack of Sharpey’s Fibres. T/F explain.
True. Boxfish carapace lacks Sharpey’s fibres which is connective tissue typically found to attach plates within the carapace of other animals.
What is the main reason for the venomous spines on the Stargazer?
Defense against predators
The pectoral fins in Stargazers act as a shovel. T/F Explain
True. They use their pectoral fins to bury themselves into the sand during the day as camouflage but also to capture their prey.
Stargazers breathe through their mouths like most fish. T/F Explain
False. They breathe through their nostrils -located on top of their head and their nostrils have a protective mucus coating that prevents sandy grains from getting inside
How does the candiru fish attach itself once inside the gill cavity of a host?
The spines on its head are what it uses to attach to a host
The candiru fish is native to South America. T/F Explain.
and native to the amazon basin, also found in countries such as Brazil, Colombia, and Peru.
Candiru fish have a ________ feeding strategy.
parasitic
Which of the following defence mechanisms were not mentioned regarding Pufferfish? A. Camouflage B. Spines C. Great eye-sight D. Schooling E. Inflation up to 3 times its size
D. Schooling
Levels of the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin are more or less uniform throughout all pufferfish species. T/F Explain.
False. Marine Species of Pufferfish typically contain higher levels of Tetrodotoxin than brackish or freshwater species.
Besides the strong specialized internal muscles of the abdomen and esophagus in Pufferfish, name two other distinct morphological features of the pufferfish that allows it to swell up to three times its original body size?
- Heavily Reduced Vertebrae (bendy)
- Skin elasticated
- Stomach elasticated
The swordfish spends most of its time near the water’s surface where temperatures range from ______ C. They will occasionally dive into deeper waters where temperatures are lower.
25-30 C
The sailfish utilizes which of the following mode of swimming?
A. Anguilliform B. Sub-Carangiform C. Carangiform D. Thunniform E. Ostraciform
Thunniform
The dorsal fin of the sailfish is extended while at cruising speeds and retracted at burst speeds. True or false? Explain.
Answer: False - The dorsal fin of the sailfish is extended at burst speeds and retracted at cruising/gliding speeds.
there are higher levels of ion transporter mRNA expression within the gills of freshwater elasmobranchs compared to elasmobranchs that inhabit estuaries/seawater environments. T/F, Explain.
TRUE higher levels of Na+/K+ ATPase mRNA is expressed in the gills of freshwater elasmobranchs to compete for low levels of solutes in a freshwater habitat through activve ion transport. mRNA expression should be lower in estuarine and saltwater environments as they are hypoosmotic in dictating that they do not need to rely heavily on active ion transporters as these habitats have high concentrations of salinity
Are freshwater elasmobranch fish osmoconformers or osmoregulators? Explain.
Osmoregulators
it secretes salts and facilitates in ion balance in hyperosmotic environments.
Why is there a relatively low number of glandular tubules in the rectal gland of freshwater elasmobranchs than marine elasmobranchs?
indicating that freshwater elasmobranch do not need a highly developed rectal gland for NaCl secretion as freshwater vertebrates would want to retain as much solutes/salt they can. Whereas, the abundance of glandular tubules in saltwater/marine elasmobranchs is critical for secreting excess amounts of salts
Which is NOT an adaptation Mariana snailfish use to handle extreme depth?
A. Cartilaginous skeleton
B. Increased DHA synthesis
C. Unfused skull
D. Production of anti-freezing proteins
E. These are all necessary adaptations for depth
E) all necessary
- Mariana snailfish have no perception of light whatsoever.T/F Explain.
True, they do not respond to light stimuli whatsoever
Briefly outline two physical adaptations Mariana snailfish underwent to survive in the ocean’s Hadal zone.
- incomplete scull
- cartilaginous skeleton , majority of bones not ossified
The four-eyed fish have two eyes. T/F Explain.
FALSE, the four eyed fish has double eyes separated by miniscus
The dorsal cornea of the four-eyed fish is thinner than the ventral cornea. T/F Explain.
FALSE ventral cornea is thinner than dorsal cornea
The ventral cornea of the four-eyed fish has the following function: A. Prevention against desiccation B. Increased light refraction C. Mechanical protection D. Light absorption E. None of the above
No refractive role, not dessciation, light abosrbation, mechanical protection or none of above
What is the respiratory organ used by Mangrove Killifish while inhabiting a terrestrial environment?
SKIN, gill and skin breathers seeing how they use gills to obtain oxygen from water in aquatic habitat but use their skin to obtain oxygen from air in terrestrial habitats.
What will cause the mangrove killifish to move to a terrestrial environment?
when the quality is poor, if the habitat dries it has no choice but to survive the terrestrial environment,
The mangrove killifish tail flip jump technique is more efficient if the fish has been living in the water. T/F explain.
false, AIR expose has been seen to increase , Increasing the area of oxidative muscle while on land allows for the fish to preform better and more efficient jumps
Which of the following statement(s) is NOT a challenge associated with hypersaline environments?
A. Excessive water loss B. Food scarcity C. Lack of available oxygen (hypoxia) D. High energetic cost to survival E. B and C
E) both B and C
Which of the following is NOT an adaptation to hypersaline environments?
A. Increased drinking rates
B. Decreased urination
C. Increased expression of ion transporting ATPases
D. Decrease in tissue water permeability (Tight Junctions)
E. Increased ion excretion at the gill
B. Decreased urination
Freshwater fishes express a higher abundance of Na+/K+ ATPases in gill tissue than fishes found under hypersaline conditions. T/F Explain.
False Saltwater fishes require more Na+/K+ ATPases in gill tissue in order to pump overly abundant ions across the gill surface.
To spawn/mate in the ocean, while maturing in fresh waters is known as anadromous migration. T/F Explain
false, Catadromous Migration = spawning/mating in the ocean, maturation in freshwaters
What is the greatest challenge that European eels face upon their migration route into freshwater?
A. Predation B. Lack of food C. Habitat loss (ie through Dams) D. Mating E. Salinity
Habitat loss through dams
Eels are considered as amphibious fish because they have the ability to remain outside of water for extended periods of time. T/F Explain.
true, Amphibious fish are those that are capable of leaving the water for extended periods of time
The Magadi Tilapia have a unique “T” shaped stomach. T/F explain.
The intestine directly intersects the esophagus at the anterior end of the stomach forming a ‘T’
allows alkaline water to bypass the emptystomach, Stops reactive mixing with acidic gastric fluids
The Magadi Tilapia are obligatory ureotelic. T/F Explain.
TRUE, unusually high osmolarity, maintenance of a hypo-osmotic state by drinking the alkaline lake water at a high rate and excreting excess ions at the gill
How does the Magadi Tilapia maintain its hypo osmotic state?
maintenance of a hypo-osmotic state by drinking the alkaline lake water at a high rate and excreting excess ions at the gill
Urea is mainly lost via what part of the body in elasmobranchs?
Gills
Which enzyme is used to convert glutamine into urea in the first step of the ornithine urea cycle?
CPSIII
Alanine is the primary nitrogen donor for urea synthesis T/F Explain.
FALSE Glutamine acts as nitrogen donor
How do tidepool sculpins breath during low tides:
A. Aquatic surface respiration (swimming at surface)
B. remain aquatic (gills)
C. emerge from tidepool passively/actively (skin)
D. A and C
E. All of the above
All of the above
Most of the nitrogenous waste (ammonia + urea) in sculpins is excreted by :
Gills
Tidepool sculpin’s sense of smell aids in predator avoidance. T/F. Explain
Answer: FALSE. Sculpin’s sense of smell can aid in predation avoidance as well as in their homing ability.
What adaptations does the stonefish needed to be able to overcome its challenges of being a benthic lie-in-wait predator? A. Camouflage B. Chemical defense C. Dorsal and anal spines D. A and B E. All of the above
E. All of the above
. What mechanism do stonefish use to feed?
ambush method and camoflauge ability
The stonefish prefers to use its venom as its first stage of defense. T/F Explain.
This toxic defends FALSE
are commonly the last resort for predation because of the energy demand by using the venom.
Desert pupfish can tolerate
A. High temperatures. B. Cold temperatures. C. Low oxygen concentrations. D. A and C. E. All of the above.
A) High Temperatures
Tuna can reach speeds up to 70 km/hr when swimming. T/F Explain.
True, tuna have a max speed of 70mph when swimming
because their propulsion is high, while their anterior resistance and caudal thrust are low allowing maximum energy to be exerted while swimming.
In the tuna heart, the Ca2+ - ATPase in cardiac myocytes pumps calcium from the __________ during the relaxation phase of the contraction-relaxation cycle.
A. Cytosol → sarcoplasmic reticulum lumen
B. Sarcoplasmic reticulum lumen → cytosol
C. Cytosol → rete mirabile
D. Rete mirabile → cytosol
E. None of the above
a) Cytosol to sarcoplasmic reticulum
What organ in tuna is part of the counter current heat exchange system?
Rete Mirable
Swordfish live a solitary lifestyle. T/F Explain.
True, Swordfish live a solitary lifestyle but are found in pairs when mating
Which one of the following is not a physiological adaptation evolved by the swordfish? A. Heating organ B. Oil-producing gland C. Long sword like bill D. Foldable dorsal fins E. None of the above
D) foldable dorsal fins
Which one of the following is not a step involved in swordfish predation?
A. Approach school of fish B. Imminent attack C. Impaling of prey using their “sword” D. Attacking prey via a slash or tap of the sword E. Capture and digestion of the prey
C) impaling of prey using their sword
All Notothenioid fish species lack both myoglobin and haemoglobin. T/F Explain.
False
Some notothenioid species lack proteins myoglobin (transports oxygen from red blood cells to mitochondria; energy production) and haemoglobin (transports oxygen in the blood of vertebrates)
- Part of the physiological adaptations in Notothenioid fishes to warming is an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids. T/F Explain.
False
an increase in overall saturated fatty acids (as a result of increase in stearic acid) due to an increase in stearic acid and a decrease in monosaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids
- What is the suggested role of EPA (Eicosenoic acid) in Notothenioid fishes?
EPA: eicosapentaenoic acid plays a role in cold tolerance in fishes (stabilizes membranes/reduces inflammation)
Desert Pupfish demonstrate paradoxical anaerobism. T/F explain
TRUE, fish will therefore, perform paradoxical anaerobism where they will produce ethanol that will be broken down into energy
Explain why Pupfish need to perform paradoxical anaerobism to survive in their environments
If Pupfish were to produce energy through aerobic respiration in such high temperature continuously, free radicals would form which would damage the fish and eventually leading to its death, therefor fish will therefore, perform paradoxical anaerobism where they will produce ethanol that will be broken down into energy
