Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
2. Chemistry3h 37m
3. Water1h 26m
4. Biomolecules2h 23m
5. Cell Components2h 26m
6. The Membrane2h 31m
7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
8. Respiration2h 40m
9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
10. Cell Signaling59m
11. Cell Division2h 47m
12. Meiosis2h 0m
13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
15. Gene Expression3h 6m
16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
17. Viruses37m
- Viruses
  37m
18. Biotechnology2h 58m
19. Genomics17m
- Genomes
  17m
20. Development1h 5m
21. Evolution3h 1m
22. Evolution of Populations3h 53m
23. Speciation1h 37m
24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
25. Phylogeny2h 31m
26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
27. Protists1h 12m
28. Plants1h 22m
29. Fungi36m
- Fungi
  19m
- Fungi Reproduction
  17m
30. Overview of Animals34m
- Overview of Animals
  34m
31. Invertebrates1h 2m
32. Vertebrates50m
33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- Water Potential
  1h 2m
35. Soil37m
- Soil and Nutrients
  20m
- Nitrogen Fixation
  16m
36. Plant Reproduction47m
- Flowers
  33m
- Seeds
  14m
37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
38. Animal Form and Function1h 19m
39. Digestive System1h 10m
- Digestion
  1h 3m
- Blood Sugar Homeostasis
  7m
40. Circulatory System1h 49m
41. Immune System1h 12m
42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- Osmoregulation and Excretion
  50m
43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- Endocrine System
  1h 4m
44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- Animal Reproduction
  1h 2m
45. Nervous System1h 55m
- Neurons and Action Potentials
  1h 8m
- Central and Peripheral Nervous System
  46m
46. Sensory Systems46m
- Sensory System
  46m
47. Muscle Systems23m
- Musculoskeletal System
  23m
48. Ecology3h 11m
49. Animal Behavior28m
- Animal Behavior
  28m
50. Population Ecology3h 41m
51. Community Ecology2h 46m
52. Ecosystems2h 36m
53. Conservation Biology24m
- Conservation Biology
  24m

42. Osmoregulation and Excretion

Osmoregulation and Excretion

General Biology

42. Osmoregulation and Excretion

Osmoregulation and Excretion

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1:10 minutes

Problem 2

Textbook Question

Which of the following organisms would lose the most water by osmosis across its gills?
a. Marine bony fish
b. Shark
c. Freshwater fish
d. Freshwater invertebrate

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of osmosis: Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

Consider the environment of each organism: Marine organisms live in saltwater, which has a higher solute concentration than their body fluids, while freshwater organisms live in water with a lower solute concentration than their body fluids.

Analyze the marine bony fish: Marine bony fish are in a hypertonic environment, meaning the surrounding water has a higher solute concentration than their body fluids, leading to water loss by osmosis.

Analyze the shark: Sharks have a unique adaptation where they maintain a high concentration of urea in their body fluids, making them isotonic or slightly hypertonic to seawater, reducing water loss by osmosis.

Compare with freshwater organisms: Freshwater fish and invertebrates are in a hypotonic environment, meaning the surrounding water has a lower solute concentration than their body fluids, leading to water gain rather than loss by osmosis.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Osmosis

Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. In aquatic organisms, osmosis affects how water is gained or lost through their gills, depending on the surrounding water's salinity.

Marine vs Freshwater Environments

Marine environments have high salt concentrations, while freshwater environments have low salt concentrations. Organisms in these environments have adapted differently to regulate water and salt balance, influencing how they gain or lose water through osmosis.

Adaptations in Aquatic Organisms

Aquatic organisms have developed physiological adaptations to manage osmoregulation. Marine bony fish, for example, tend to lose water due to the high salinity of their environment, while freshwater organisms gain water due to the lower external solute concentration.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Complete this map, which presents the three main topics of this chapter.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following statements regarding fishes that live in fresh-water is/are correct? Select True or False for each statement.

T/F Water moves across the gills via osmosis until equilibrium is established, at which time the water molecules stop moving.

T/F They lose water to their environment primarily through the gills. They replace this water by drinking.

T/F Water enters epithelial cells in their gills via osmosis. Electrolytes leave the same cells via diffusion.

T/F They have specialized epithelia that actively pump electrolytes from the environment into the blood.

465

views

Textbook Question

Which process in the nephron is least selective?

a. Filtration

b. Reabsorption

c. Active transport

d. Secretion

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Textbook Question

In this schematic of urine production in a nephron, label the four processes involved and list some of the substances that are moved in each process.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following animals generally has the lowest volume of urine production?

a. Vampire bat

b. Salmon in fresh water

c. Marine bony fish

d. Freshwater flatworm

1240

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Textbook Question

What effect does antidiuretic hormone (ADH) have on the nephron?

a. It increases the water permeability of the descending limb of the loop of Henle.

b. It decreases the water permeability of the descending limb of the loop of Henle.

c. It increases the water permeability of the collecting duct.

d. It decreases the water permeability of the collecting duct.

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Textbook Question

The high osmolarity of the renal medulla is maintained by which of the following?

a. Active transport of salt from the upper region of the descending limb.

b. The loose packing of juxtamedullary nephrons.

c. Diffusion of urea into the collecting duct.

d. Diffusion of salt from the descending limb of the loop of Henle.

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Textbook Question

The high osmolarity of the renal medulla is maintained by all of the following except

a. Active transport of salt from the upper region of the ascending limb.

b. The spatial arrangement of juxtamedullary nephrons.

c. Diffusion of urea from the collecting duct.

d. Diffusion of salt from the descending limb of the loop of Henle.

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Which of the following organisms would lose the most water by osmosis across its gills?a. Marine bony fish b. Shark c. Freshwater fish d. Freshwater invertebrate

Key Concepts

Osmosis

Marine vs Freshwater Environments

Adaptations in Aquatic Organisms

Watch next

Which of the following organisms would lose the most water by osmosis across its gills?
a. Marine bony fish
b. Shark
c. Freshwater fish
d. Freshwater invertebrate