Marine Biology: Elasmobranchs and Fish Behavior
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Questions and Answers

How do great white sharks improve their prey detection while hunting?

  • By remaining in shadow while facing the sun. (correct)
  • By using echolocation to find prey.
  • By rapidly swimming to create a wave effect.
  • By making loud sounds to attract prey.

What unique method do manta rays use to concentrate plankton while feeding?

  • They move cephalic lobes to concentrate prey. (correct)
  • They swim in tight circles around their prey.
  • They use their tails to stir up the water.
  • They release bubbles to trap plankton.

How does the saw of a sawfish assist in locating prey?

  • It produces sound waves that attract prey.
  • It acts like an antenna to detect vibrations in the water. (correct)
  • It serves primarily as a weapon, not for locating prey.
  • It uses biofluorescence to lure in other fish.

Which of these species primarily uses filter feeding as their feeding strategy?

<p>Basking shark. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of dermal denticles in elasmobranchs?

<p>They protect the skin and enhance hydrodynamics. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which sensory capability is NOT mentioned as part of the sensory systems in elasmobranchs?

<p>Thermoreception. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does neuroecology study?

<p>The interaction between nervous systems and ecological environments. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process is involved in the neural basis of behavior regarding signals?

<p>Sampling the received signals. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do cryptochromes play in navigation for certain species?

<p>They sense light wavelengths and magnetic fields. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about metabolic scope in teleost fish is true?

<p>Metabolic scope represents the range of metabolic rates from basal to maximum levels. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes sedentary species of fish?

<p>They remain within a limited home range. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the moray eel from the gulper eel?

<p>Moray eels are muscular and flexible while gulper eels have a collapsible stomach. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do migratory species of fish differ from sedentary species?

<p>Migratory species exhibit seasonal patterns of movement. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method do sharks use to navigate that does NOT involve magnetic fields?

<p>Electric currents induced by their movement. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of deep-sea animals like gulper eels influences their muscular structure?

<p>Low food availability reducing the necessity for muscle. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to understand fish biology in relation to conservation management?

<p>To manage fish populations and biodiversity effectively. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of steroid hormones?

<p>Cholesterol (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of hormone typically elicits fast but transient effects?

<p>Protein hormones (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do steroid hormones exert their effects on target cells?

<p>By migrating into the nucleus and binding DNA (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do adrenal glucocorticoids play in the body?

<p>Managing stress responses (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one challenge in using stress as a measure of animal health?

<p>Separating normal actions from stress-induced reactions is complex (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can endocrine biomarkers indicate about animal populations?

<p>Reproductive health and stress responses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following hormones is considered a progestogen?

<p>Progesterone (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant impact has hunting had on North Atlantic right whales?

<p>Decreased population numbers (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following mechanisms helps marine iguanas cope with high salt intake from sea grass?

<p>They possess cranial glands that excrete salt. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of salt glands do crocodiles and alligators possess?

<p>Lingual salt glands located in the mouth. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do sea snakes reduce water intake when consuming prey?

<p>They have a pterygoid walk mechanism. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What initiates a response in target cells after hormone binding?

<p>The receptors undergo a structural change. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the endocrine system?

<p>A collection of glands secreting hormones directly into the bloodstream. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of animal communication, what does the signaller do?

<p>Generates and elicits a signal. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic distinguishes the endocrine system from the nervous system?

<p>Endocrine systems rely on chemical messengers in the bloodstream. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of receptors in endocrine cells?

<p>To bind with hormones and trigger cellular responses. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What alternative method is used to sample hormones from whales instead of blood collection?

<p>Collecting whale poo (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can be determined from whale poo regarding the population?

<p>The ratio of males to females (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are steroid hormones easier to monitor compared to protein hormones?

<p>Steroid hormones remain stable for longer periods (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the initial species for which dogs were trained to find poo?

<p>Right whales (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method provides the broadest measure of hormone fluctuations in whales?

<p>Urine analysis (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of using hair samples for hormone monitoring?

<p>They provide a long-term timeframe but can be harder to interpret (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to steroid hormones that are not picked up by target organs?

<p>They are excreted in bile after processing by the liver (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of non-invasive hormone monitoring compared to blood sampling?

<p>It allows monitoring without impacting the animal (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What hormone is released by the anterior pituitary gland in response to corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH)?

<p>Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a role of glucocorticoids (GCs)?

<p>Suppressing immune responses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do glucocorticoids affect gene expression?

<p>They bind to receptors and influence gene expression (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During which phase do glucocorticoid levels typically show an increase?

<p>At the beginning of the active phase (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors can influence glucocorticoid levels?

<p>Seasonal changes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the genome can glucocorticoids regulate?

<p>20% (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of genes can be impacted by glucocorticoids (GCs)?

<p>Clock genes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a role of glucocorticoids?

<p>Stimulating muscle growth (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Sun's Role in Great White Hunting

Great white sharks use the sun to their advantage by positioning themselves in a way that their prey is in the sunlight while they remain in shadow. This helps them detect prey and avoids damage to their eyes from bright sunlight.

Manta Ray Feeding

Manta rays use their cephalic lobes, large flaps of skin on their heads, to concentrate plankton. They also perform somersaults to aggregate prey.

Sawfish's Sensory Saw

The saw of a sawfish acts as a sensory organ, helping it to locate prey. It also uses its saw as a weapon, but only in mid-water, not on the bottom.

Filter Feeding in Sharks

Some sharks, like basking sharks, whale sharks, and megamouth sharks, are filter feeders. They passively feed by moving through the water column with a wide open mouth, filtering out food.

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Elasmobranch Dermal Denicles

Elasmobranchs have small teeth-like structures called denicles on their skin. These help them move efficiently through water, reducing drag, and protecting their mouth and taste receptors.

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Visual Attraction in Marine Animals

Some marine animals use lures or biofluorescence to attract prey. Biofluorescence involves absorbing blue light and re-emitting it as a different color, such as green, orange, or red.

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Neuroecology

Neuroecology is the study of how the nervous system of animals interacts with their environment, focusing on sensory systems and their role in behavior.

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Neural Basis of Behavior

Sensory signals, like light, sound, or odors, are received, transmitted, and analyzed by the nervous system to generate behavioral responses.

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Hormone

A chemical messenger produced by a gland that travels through the bloodstream to target cells or organs.

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Endocrine Cell

Specialized cells that produce and release chemical messengers (hormones) into the bloodstream.

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Endocrine System

A network of glands scattered throughout the body that communicate using hormones.

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Nervous System

A complex network of nerve cells (neurons) that communicate using electrical signals.

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Animal Communication

The process by which animals exchange information using signals.

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Signaller

An individual that produces a signal to communicate with another animal.

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Receiver

An individual that receives a signal and may or may not respond to it.

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Response

A behavior or action that is triggered by a received signal.

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Protein Hormones

Hormones formed from amino acids. They bind to receptors on the target cell surface, triggering rapid but short-lived effects via secondary messengers.

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Steroid Hormones

Hormones derived from cholesterol. They diffuse across cell membranes, bind to receptors in the cytoplasm, and then travel to the nucleus to influence gene expression. Their effects are slow but long-lasting.

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Pro-hormone

An inactive precursor of a protein hormone that gets chopped and fragmented into active hormones.

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Secondary Messengers

Molecules that relay signals within the target cell after a protein hormone binds to its receptor.

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Steroid Biosynthesis Pathway

A one-way process for converting cholesterol into different steroid hormones.

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Endocrine Biomarkers

Hormones or their metabolites used as indicators of an individual's or population's physiological state and how they respond to environmental changes.

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Reproductive Biomarkers

Hormones or metabolites that indicate the reproductive health of an individual or population.

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Stress Biomarkers

Hormones or metabolites that reflect an animal's response to environmental stressors.

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Fish Navigation: How do sharks navigate?

Sharks use a combination of sensory systems to navigate long distances, which can include a photoreceptor-based system (using proteins sensitive to different wavelengths of light, like cryptochromes), a magnetite-based system (using magnetosensitive cells), or an indirect method through their electro sensory system (detecting electric currents induced by their movement or ocean currents through the Earth's magnetic field).

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Metabolic Scope

The range of metabolic rates a fish can achieve, from its resting basal level to its maximum activity level.

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Metabolic Rate

The rate at which chemical reactions occur within a fish's cells, providing energy for life processes.

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Sedentary Fish Species

Fish species that stay within a limited home range, avoiding extensive movement to minimize risk of predation.

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Migratory Fish Species

Fish species that travel long distances seasonally, often for breeding or feeding purposes.

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Muscle Importance for Fish

Muscle tissue is key for most teleost fish, especially shallow water species, as it enables them to swim, hunt, and defend themselves.

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Muscle Differences in Fish

Different fish species have varied muscle mass based on their environment and lifestyle. For instance, deep sea fish have less muscle due to energy conservation, while shallow water fish like moray eels require stronger muscles for hunting and defense.

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Teleost Fish: Diversity and Adaptation

Teleosts, the most diverse group of vertebrates, display wide variation in habitats, lifestyles, sizes, and shapes, reflecting their adaptations to different environmental pressures.

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Whale Poo Analysis

A non-invasive method of studying whale populations by analyzing their feces for hormone levels.

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Hormone Types

Hormones are either steroid-based (stable, excreted in urine and feces) or protein-based (sensitive, degrade quickly).

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Non-invasive Hormone Monitoring

A method of studying hormones without harming the animal, such as analyzing feces or urine.

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Hormones in Whale Poo

Steroid hormones are excreted in feces, providing insights into a whale's reproductive status.

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Advantages of Non-invasive Monitoring

Minimizes impact on the animal, allows for long-term tracking, and provides a broader picture of hormone levels.

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Urine vs. Feces for Monitoring

Urine provides a broader picture of overall hormone levels, while feces reflects even broader trends.

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How to Find Whale Poo

Dogs can be trained to sniff out whale poop, aiding researchers in collecting valuable samples.

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Longitudinal Hormone Monitoring

Tracking changes in hormone levels over time to understand trends in a whale population.

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HPA Axis

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a complex neuroendocrine system responsible for regulating stress response. It involves the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands, all working together to release hormones like cortisol in response to stress.

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Cortisol

Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, primarily in response to stress. It helps regulate blood sugar levels, metabolism, and immune function.

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Role of Cortisol in Circadian Rhythm

Cortisol levels naturally rise in the morning, helping to wake you up and prepare for the day. They then decrease throughout the day, reaching their lowest levels at night.

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Cortisol's Influence on Reproduction

Cortisol plays an important role in regulating reproduction, particularly in animals. It can be crucial for successful breeding seasons by influencing reproductive processes.

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Cortisol's Immune Function

Cortisol acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, helping to suppress immune responses. This can be beneficial in short-term stress situations, but prolonged high cortisol levels can weaken the immune system.

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Cortisol's Mechanism of Action

Cortisol binds to receptors in cells, then travels to the nucleus where it influences gene expression. This can either increase or decrease the production of specific proteins, impacting various bodily functions.

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Cortisol's Impact on Gene Expression

Cortisol can influence the expression of thousands of genes, including those involved in glucose metabolism, circadian rhythm, and immune function.

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Factors Influencing Cortisol's Effects

The effects of cortisol can vary based on factors like cell type, the presence of other molecules (co-activators), and the specific type of cortisol receptor involved.

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Study Notes

Lecture 1 - General Overview of Animal Camouflage and Transparency

  • Terrestrial and aquatic animals use various strategies to blend with their surroundings, either to avoid predators or for hunting. These include hiding, mimicking, and using substrate.
  • Animals can camouflage themselves in three ways:
    • Color matching the substrate, like the anemone shrimp
    • Mimicking the substrate's structure, breaking up the body outline, like the stonefish
    • Combining color and structure for camouflage, like the flounder or cigar wrasse.
  • Crypsis is the goal, camouflaging to blend in with surroundings, accomplished using different mechanisms to reduce conspicuousness.
  • Transparency is a way animals can reduce visibility, achieved by minimizing light scattering and reflection so photons pass through the organism. This can be partial (a portion of the organism is transparent) or total (the whole organism is transparent).
  • Transparency is more common in aquatic environments, specifically deep-sea oceanic environments, due to factors limiting its evolution and more commonality in the ocean.
  • Transparency depends on the difference between an organism and its environment's refractive index.

Lecture 2 - Bioluminescence

  • Bioluminescence is the production and emission of cold light (not heat) by living organisms, functioning for survival. It's an extremely efficient chemical reaction.
  • Bioluminescence is widespread in invertebrates, and some in vertebrates.
  • Organisms may obtain their luciferin (the light-producing chemical) from their diet, or synthesize it.
  • Luciferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction creating light.
  • Bioluminescence may serve various functions, including attracting prey, mate attraction, communication, predator deterrence, and counter-illumination.
  • Bioluminescence is most common in marine environments due to the lack of sunlight. Factors that limit the evolution and use of transparency in the earth's environment include the following:
    1. Gravity
    2. UV radiation
    3. Refractive index.

Lecture 3 - Deep-sea Organisms

  • High pressure, lack of light, cold temperatures, and limited food availability pose special challenges for deep-sea species.
  • Organisms living in deep water have evolved adaptations to cope with high pressure, including altered protein structures (in cell membranes, for example) to withstand compression.
  • Deep-sea animals have low metabolic rates to conserve energy and accommodate the food scarcity that these habitats present.
  • Some deep-sea species have adapted their mouth size to consume food opportunistically.
  • Many deep-sea species have reduced musculature and increased fat reserves to cope with energy conservation.
  • Glycosylation enzymes are an indicator of metabolic rates and decrease with depth. Cellular respiration activity declines with increased depth.

Lecture 1 - Fish Diversity and Feeding

  • Cartilaginous fishes (sharks, skates, rays, elephant sharks) have existed for over 400 million years.
  • Bony fish has approximately 20,000 species.
  • Fish feeding varies greatly, with strategies including sit-and-wait (ambush), active pursuit, and filter feeding, in a diversity of habitats.

Lecture 2 - Sensory and Communication Systems in Fishes

  • Chemoreception (sense of smell and taste) is important in fishes, often for locating food and mates.
  • Fishes have various olfactory systems, with some variations related to their diet and environment. Internal and external tastebuds are also employed.
  • Fishes use specialized cells to detect chemicals in water, and receptors are found in specific locations in the mouth, throat, skin, nasal openings, and gill arches.
  • Light detection is important.
  • Acoustic signaling for communication, feeding, and avoiding predators is also crucial. Many differences in hearing adaptations are related to the environment.

Lecture 3 - Physiology of the Catch Mechanism in Bivalves

  • Bivalves, like scallops, can exhibit a "catch" mechanism where muscles contract without constant ATP use. This is a specialized type of muscle contraction that can be used for a long period of time.
  • The pathways involved in causing contraction can be related to serotonin levels.

Lecture 3 - Osmoregulation in Marine Organisms

  • Aquatic animals can be either osmoregulators or osmoconformers.
  • Osmoregulation in marine creatures: The process of regulating internal water balance in response to external water conditions.
  • Euryhaline animals can tolerate a wide range of salinity.
  • Stenohaline animals can only tolerate a narrow range of salinity.
  • Freshwater fish tend to lose salts and gain water in the surrounding environment. Saltwater fish tend to gain salts but lose water.
  • Adaptations include specialized glands and/or kidneys to excrete salts or water and concentrate or conserve water based on their specific environment.

Lecture 1 – Behavioural Endocrinology

  • Hormones are chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to target cells or organs.
  • The endocrine system, with its various glands and organs, controls critical body functions and responses throughout an animal's life cycle.

Lecture 1 – Hormonal Influences (Endocrine System) in Different Environments

  • Endocrine biomarkers in the study of animal behavior: Understanding how hormones are related to behavior through time, especially regarding reproduction, stress, and immune response.
  • Factors such as temperature, food availability, social cues, and photoperiods influence reproductive functions and hormonal balance in animals.

Additional Notes - Aquatic Ecosystems

  • Environmental changes (like pollution and rising sea temperatures) can affect the function of the endocrine systems that are used to regulate behavior.
  • Various species of marine animals exhibit specialized physiology and behavioral responses to cope with different characteristics of their environment.
  • Fishes can either be migratory or sedentary, which affects their adaptation to changing environments.

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Animal Camouflage and Bioluminescence Notes PDF

Description

Test your knowledge on the fascinating world of marine biology, focusing on elasmobranchs like sharks and rays, as well as teleost fish behaviors. Discover how these creatures detect prey, use unique feeding strategies, and navigate their environments. This quiz covers sensory systems, feeding methods, and neural behavior in marine animals.

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