Aquatic Animal Adaptations and Feeding

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Questions and Answers

What determines the bite force quotient (BFQ) in animals?

Size of the animal

Speed of movement

Orientation and arrangement of muscle fibers (correct)

Shape of the jaw

How does suction feeding work in aquatic animals?

It involves rapid mouth closure to capture prey.

It relies on strong jaw muscles to crush prey.

It creates negative pressure in the oropharynx to draw in water and prey. (correct)

It uses sharp teeth to grasp prey quickly.

What is a unique method used by the thresher shark to stun prey?

Whip-like tail motion called tail smacking (correct)

Electric discharges from its body

Camouflage against the background

High-speed swimming

What adaptation in fish helps them avoid detection by predators in deep water?

Counter illumination through bioluminescence Signup and view all the answers

What feature of the electric ray contributes to its ability to stun prey?

Electric organ that stores energy Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of bioluminescent organs in some deep-sea fish?

To match the downwelling light for camouflage Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the adaptation that helps bony and cartilaginous fish remain undetected from predators?

Counter illumination Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about nurse sharks is accurate?

They perform rapid, three-stage suction feeding. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant factor that impacts the oxygen carrying capacity in aquatic environments?

pH levels Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors contributes to the scarcity of dissolved oxygen in tropical reefs?

Temperature layer stratification Signup and view all the answers

What physiological factor helps small larval stages of fish grow faster in warmer months?

Shape's impact on heat absorption Signup and view all the answers

What typically occurs during a fish kill in aquatic environments?

Explosion in oxygen demand Signup and view all the answers

How does increasing the size of an object affect its metabolic rate?

It lowers the surface area to volume ratio Signup and view all the answers

Which behavior might fish exhibit to avoid predators even under unfavorable conditions?

Traveling long distances for food Signup and view all the answers

What is one consequence of fish having a restricted volume of water during an oxygen depletion event?

Potential complete collapse of the fish population Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the impact of current flow on dissolved oxygen levels?

High current flow reduces temperature stratification Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary method by which mammals reduce salt levels in their bodies?

By producing hyperosmotic urine Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about seabirds' kidneys is true?

Their kidneys lack a loop of Henle. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of nasal salt glands in birds?

To secrete concentrated salt Signup and view all the answers

How do some water birds like pelicans obtain their required water?

From their diet Signup and view all the answers

What adaptation helps leatherback turtles to consume jellyfish effectively?

Chitin-based spiked lining in the throat Signup and view all the answers

Which feature allows silvereyes to manage their water intake?

Behavioral selection of high-water items Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant challenge for seabirds regarding salt concentration?

They cannot secrete excess salt. Signup and view all the answers

What method do sea turtles use to excrete excess salt?

Via specialized nasal salt glands Signup and view all the answers

What percentage can a giant clam close its shell to avoid predators without risking carbon dioxide poisoning?

90% Signup and view all the answers

Which type of muscle do scallops primarily use for maintaining a closed shell position over extended periods?

Smooth muscle Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the muscle contractions that scallops use to swim away quickly?

Phasic contractions Signup and view all the answers

What physiological mechanism allows bivalves to maintain prolonged contractions with minimal energy use?

Catch mechanism Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the pedal ganglia in bivalves?

It produces neurotransmitter molecules inducing contraction. Signup and view all the answers

In scallops, what is the property of the two types of muscle fibers used during swimming?

Smooth muscle is opaque while striated muscle is translucent. Signup and view all the answers

What initiates muscle contraction in bivalves, according to recent understanding?

A build-up of intracellular calcium. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of contraction is characterized as 'persistent' in bivalves?

Tonic contraction Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of GnRH in the HPG axis?

Activates the anterior pituitary gland to release LH and FSH Signup and view all the answers

Which hormone is specifically monitored to determine if a female turtle is pregnant?

Progesterone Signup and view all the answers

What does the fluctuation of estradiol and progesterone indicate about a female?

Her reproductive maturity and cycle regularity Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following methods is being researched as a non-invasive way to monitor whales?

Measuring whale blow Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of reproductive endocrinology?

Understanding the HPG axis and its effects Signup and view all the answers

Which hormone is specifically associated with stimulating ovarian functions?

LH Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred if hormone levels suggest abnormalities in ovarian function?

There are potential reproductive issues Signup and view all the answers

What kind of cues does the brain detect to activate the HPG axis?

Multiple types including resource availability and photoperiod Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of movement towards the kinocilium on hair cells?

It produces an excitatory response. Signup and view all the answers

How does absorption affect sound waves in aquatic environments?

It transforms acoustic energy into heat energy. Signup and view all the answers

Which structures are primarily responsible for hearing in fish?

Otolith organs and semicircular canals. Signup and view all the answers

What defines non-natural sounds in aquatic environments?

Anthropogenic sounds like shipping and sonar. Signup and view all the answers

What are saccular otoliths known for?

They form growth rings that can indicate the age of fish. Signup and view all the answers

What physical characteristics can affect sound transmission in water?

Salinity and temperature differences. Signup and view all the answers

Where do the otolith organs sit in relation to the hair cells?

Over a bed of hair cells within the cupula. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the semicircular canals in the fish ear?

To detect movement and orientation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lecture 1

Terrestrial and aquatic animals use substrate for camouflage, hiding under, in, or mimicking it.
Animals use camouflage in 3 ways; colour matching, structural matching, or a combination of both.
Crypsis is the goal, camouflage is the mechanism.
Animals can reduce visibility by reflecting or manipulating light.
Transparency is achieved by minimising light scattering and reflection.
Transparency is a form of crypsis involving the whole organism.
Transparency can be partial (only part of the organism is transparent) or complete (whole organism transparent).
Transparency is more common in aquatic environments, especially deep sea.
Factors limiting transparency evolution include higher density of tissue, and higher UV exposure.

Lecture 2

Bioluminescence is the production and emission of cold light by a living organism.
Many organisms across the planet use bioluminescence.
80% of bioluminescent organisms are in marine environments, in pelagic, mesopelagic, and benthic zones.
Bioluminescence is created from a chemical reaction (chemiluminescence).
The chemical reaction makes light without releasing heat.
Examples of bioluminescence include fireflies, glow worms, and marine organisms.

Lecture 3

High pressure, absence of light, cold temperatures and lack of strong currents are challenges in the deep ocean.
Animals in the deep have low metabolic rates.
Proteins structures are affected by pressure.
Cell membranes have a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids to withstand pressure.
Deep sea animals have low metabolic rates due to limited food availability.
Deep sea animals have large mouths and guts due to sporadic food.
Deep sea animals have greatly reduced musculature.

Lecture 1 by Shaun

Cartilaginous fishes (sharks, skates, rays, elephant sharks) have existed for over 400 million years.
Bony fishes have existed for 40-50 million years.
Various factors affect feeding strategies like dietary needs, activity patterns and environmental cues.
Common feeding strategies include sit-and-wait, active searching and targeting.
Features of fish feeding include mouth size/shape, sensory capabilities, methods of ingestion and propulsion methods.

Lecture 2 by Shaun

Chemoreception (Smell) is the oldest sense, detects molecules in water.
Olfactory Plumes are odours emanating from a source.
Fish have olfactory epithelium within nostrils to increase surface area for receptors that detect chemicals.
Fish are highly sensitive to certain molecules (specific to their diet), and some have internal and external taste buds.
Olfactory epithelium contains sensory and non-sensory regions, and ciliated and villous receptor cells.

Lecture 1 by Travis

The abundance and diversity of bivalves include 93,000 mollusk species.
80% of coral reefs are made up of bivalves.
Bivalves have 2 valves joined together by hinges.
Bivalves have adapted to living environments. They use different attachment methods (epifaunal/sessile or infaunal/free-swimming).
Bivalves face risks like predation and desiccation and have strategies to avoid these risks.

Lecture 1 by Kerry

Hormones are chemicals secreted in the body that travel through the blood stream affecting target cells.
The endocrine system communicates via chemical messengers. The nervous system communicates through electrical pulses.

Lecture 2 by Kerry

Population demographics deal with population size, birth rates and death rates which are crucial indicators for health.
Individual physiological responses are indicators of population health, and help understand the effects of environmental conditions on individuals.
Endocrine biomarkers assess reproductive health and stress responses.

Additional Notes

Cryptochromes: Proteins sensitive to specific wavelengths of light, able to detect magnetic fields.
Magnetoreception: Detection of weak magnetic fields.
Endocrine disrupters: Chemicals that mimic or interfere with hormones in the body.
Bioluminescent signals: Used in camouflage, attracting prey or mates, and defending from predators.
Osmoregulation: The process of maintaining water and salt balance to maintain biological functions in organisms.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the unique adaptations and feeding mechanisms of aquatic animals. This quiz covers various topics, including bite force quotient, suction feeding, and adaptations for predator evasion in deep water environments. Dive into the fascinating world of marine biology and discover how these creatures thrive in their habitats.