Zool 241 Lecture 2 - Water and Homeostasis

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Questions and Answers

What is the term for moving water or fluids from one place to another?

Bulk flow (correct)

Hydrophobic flow

Fluid transfer

Water movement

Why do ions readily dissolve into water?

Ions are less dense than water

Heat increases solubility

Their mass is heavier than water

Water's polarity (correct)

What happens to fluid mass when salt is added to water?

Fluid mass and water volume both increase

Fluid mass decreases significantly

Water volume increases with fluid mass

Fluid mass increases while water volume remains unchanged (correct)

What type of channel does Tetrodotoxin (TTX) block?

Voltage-gated Na+ channels Signup and view all the answers

What charge does a cation carry?

Positive charge Signup and view all the answers

Which condition can Tetrodotoxin (TTX) lead to?

Respiratory failure Signup and view all the answers

What surrounds an ion when it's dissolved in water, preventing it from moving freely?

Hydration shell Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes compounds that repel water?

Hydrophobic Signup and view all the answers

What is a key reason life on Earth takes advantage of water's properties?

Water serves as a high 'latent heat of vaporization' to regulate temperature. Signup and view all the answers

Which property of water contributes to its ability to dissolve many substances?

Water's unique structure and polarity. Signup and view all the answers

How does the property of surface tension in water benefit certain animals?

It provides a solid surface to walk on. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the volume of water when it is compressed?

The volume remains unchanged due to incompressibility. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs to water when heat is added in terms of hydrogen bonds?

Hydrogen bonds break, resulting in the formation of water vapor. Signup and view all the answers

Why is water considered a 'great heat sink'?

It can absorb and store a lot of heat energy without significant temperature change. Signup and view all the answers

What major adaptation might animals living under large volumes of water need to cope with?

Adaptations to manage high gas pressures. Signup and view all the answers

What essential ability must organisms have to regulate their internal conditions?

Ability to regulate water levels and maintain homeostasis. Signup and view all the answers

What causes oil and water to not be readily miscible?

Lack of polarity in the saturated chain Signup and view all the answers

What is produced when CO2 reacts with water?

Bicarbonate ion (HCO3−) Signup and view all the answers

What primarily dictates the movement of water across a barrier?

Osmolarity of the solution Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between major and minor ions?

Major ions typically determine the ionic strength of a solution Signup and view all the answers

What effect does a salt wedge or halocline have on life in estuaries?

Challenges organisms with varying salt concentrations Signup and view all the answers

What happens to water movement when there is a difference in concentration gradients?

Water seeks to equalize concentration differences Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is essential for cellular membranes to maintain structure?

Hydrophobic interactions Signup and view all the answers

What term is used to describe the total concentration of solute particles in a solution?

Osmolarity Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Concepts of Water in Zoology

The relationship between an animal and its environment is interconnected; changes in the environment affect organisms.
Organisms must regulate internal conditions through homeostasis, despite environmental changes.

Homeostasis and Water

Water is essential for life, characterized by unique properties such as structure, polarity, liquid and solid forms, and hydrogen bonds.
Acts as a heat sink, absorbing and retaining heat, which is crucial for maintaining stable temperatures.

Unique Properties of Water

Water is incompressible and viscous, preventing free spaces and affecting how animals adapt to pressure in aquatic environments.
Dissolves a wide variety of substances, including ions and gases, making it a vital medium for biochemical reactions.

Surface Tension and Biological Interfaces

Water exhibits surface tension, creating interfaces that support life forms, such as the mosquito and the Jesus Christ Lizard, which can walk on water.
The surface tension reacts to force; greater force creates higher resistance, allowing certain animals to navigate this interface effectively.

Water and Temperature Regulation

Water has a high latent heat of vaporization, allowing it to absorb significant amounts of heat energy, which plays a role in sweating and temperature regulation in life forms.
This property is fundamental for ecosystems, as it helps regulate temperature across environments.

Pressure and Adaptations in Aquatic Animals

Aquatic organisms adapt to high-pressure environments, where gas solubility in water increases under pressure.
Example: Divers must manage decompression sickness (the bends) when ascending.

Viscosity and Energy

Moving water requires energy; bulk flow refers to the movement of fluids from one location to another, significant for various biological processes.

Ionic Dissolution in Water

Water typically contains dissolved ions, which are categorized as anions (negatively charged) and cations (positively charged).
The polarity of water facilitates the dissolution of these ions, forming hydration shells that influence biological functions.

Sodium and Hydration Shells

Adding salt increases fluid mass without increasing water volume due to the ordering effect of water around ions.
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) in some organisms blocks sodium ion channels, demonstrating the importance of ion movement in cellular processes.

Hydrophobicity

Non-polar compounds like oil do not mix with water, leading to hydrophobic interactions critical for cellular membrane integrity.

Carbon Dioxide and Bicarbonate Formation

CO2 dissolves in water, allowing for the formation of bicarbonate ions, crucial for maintaining pH balance in biological systems.

Ion Concentration in Estuaries

Estuarine environments display gradients in salinity, presenting challenges for organisms that must adapt to varying salt concentrations.

Measuring Solutes in Water

Two primary methods exist for quantifying solutes: molarity (M) for individual amounts and osmolarity (Osm) for aggregate amounts in solutions.

Movement Across Membranes

Water and ion movement across barriers follow gradients; substances naturally move from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration, affecting osmolarity.
Understanding osmolarity is critical for predicting water movement in biological systems, especially in varying environments like freshwater and seawater.

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Description

Explore the critical relationship between animals and their environments in this quiz based on Zool 241, Lecture 2. Delve into the concept of homeostasis and the role water plays as the cornerstone of life. Understand how changes in the environment impact organisms' internal regulation.