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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1:25 minutes

Problem 18

Textbook Question

Two endothermic animals are the same size, but one is a carnivore and the other is an herbivore. Predict which of these animals would produce the greatest amount of nitrogenous wastes. Explain.

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the metabolic processes of carnivores and herbivores. Carnivores primarily consume meat, which contains high levels of protein. Herbivores consume plant-based diets, which are generally lower in protein.

Recognize that protein metabolism in animals leads to the production of nitrogenous wastes such as urea or uric acid.

Consider the dietary intake of the two animals. Since the carnivore consumes a higher protein diet, it metabolizes more protein compared to the herbivore.

Relate the amount of protein metabolized to the production of nitrogenous wastes. More protein metabolism results in more nitrogenous waste production.

Conclude that the carnivore, which consumes a diet richer in proteins, would produce a greater amount of nitrogenous wastes compared to the herbivore.

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Key Concepts

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

Endothermy

Endothermy refers to the ability of an organism to regulate its body temperature internally, allowing it to maintain a stable temperature regardless of external conditions. This metabolic process requires a significant amount of energy, which is derived from the food the animal consumes. Endothermic animals, such as mammals and birds, typically have higher metabolic rates compared to ectothermic animals, influencing their energy and waste production.

Nitrogenous Wastes

Nitrogenous wastes are byproducts of protein metabolism, primarily consisting of urea, uric acid, and ammonia. These wastes are produced when proteins and nucleic acids are broken down for energy or other metabolic processes. The amount and type of nitrogenous waste produced can vary significantly between carnivores and herbivores, with carnivores generally producing more due to their higher protein intake from animal tissues.

Dietary Influence on Metabolism

The diet of an animal significantly influences its metabolic processes and waste production. Carnivores typically consume high-protein diets, leading to increased protein catabolism and, consequently, higher nitrogenous waste output. In contrast, herbivores consume plant material, which is generally lower in protein and may result in lower nitrogenous waste production. This dietary difference is crucial for predicting the amount of nitrogenous waste produced by the two animals in the question.

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Which process in the nephron is least selective?

a. Secretion

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c. Filtration

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True or false: Water moves by osmosis across a fish's gills to an area with a higher sodium ion concentration because water molecules are attracted to the sodium ions.

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Compare the water and salt regulation in a salmon when it swims in the ocean to when it migrates into fresh water to spawn.

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Textbook Question

Draw a graph similar to the one here showing how the results would be different if the experiment had been performed on marine bony fish in seawater. (Assume that the osmolarity of seawater is 1100 mOsm and the set point osmolarity of marine bony fishes is 290 mOsm.)

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Multiple Choice

Why must marine bony fishes drink large amounts of seawater?