What is the primary reason freshwater animals need to osmoregulate?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the primary reason that freshwater animals need to regulate the osmotic balance of their body fluids. It requires understanding the concept of osmoregulation in relation to the environment in which these animals live.
Answer
To maintain their cellular fluid composition and volume.
The primary reason freshwater animals need to osmoregulate is to maintain their cellular fluid composition and volume.
Answer for screen readers
The primary reason freshwater animals need to osmoregulate is to maintain their cellular fluid composition and volume.
More Information
Freshwater animals are in an environment where the concentration of solutes is higher in their bodies than in the surrounding water. This causes water to flow into their bodies through osmosis, which can dilute bodily fluids. Osmoregulation helps maintain the proper balance of water and salts.
Tips
A common mistake is assuming that osmoregulation only involves getting rid of extra water or salt, but it's actually about maintaining a balance of both.
Sources
- Osmoregulation | ScienceDirect - sciencedirect.com
- 11.1 Homeostasis and Osmoregulation – Concepts of Biology - opentextbc.ca
- Osmoregulation - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
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