2: Adaptations to Aquatic Environments Flashcards
Adaptation
evolutionary process; obtain characteristics to help organism be best suited for envr.
Abiotic Factors
energy from sunlight, nutrients from soil and water
96% of all elements:
hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen
energy
ability to do work (potential and kinetic)
1st law of thermodynamics
conservation of energy
2nd law of thermodynamics
heat (entropy) is increasing; energy disorder increases
Water:
great solvent and most abundant (71% of earth’s surface area)
adaptations of whales and penguins
streamlined body for swimming, ↓ metabolism to ↓ demand for oxygen, lots of blubber for warmth
3 basic tasks of all living things:
- Acquire resources
- Eliminate waste
- Reproduce
Surface tension
water molecules are attracted to each other; creating elastic texture
Capillary action
water molecules are attracted to surfaces
- Animals have to break surface tension to get out of water
Water + salt =
freezing temp ↓, boiling point ↑
water has a ___ specific heat
high
- transfers heat quickly
density of water >/< air
water»_space; air (buoyant)
aquatic animals < dense than water =
air-filled pocket to help sink
- ex: animals; divers using air-filled vests for skin
aquatic animals > dense than water =
use oil/fat to float
- ex: algae w/ oil droplets to float
Viscosity
thickness of fluid; causes resistance
- adaptations: streamlined bodies
Solubility
water = highly soluble
- Bc of…highly polar hydrogen bonds = highly attracted to polar compounds
Saturation
mineral upper limit/bound of solubility in water
- ↑ w/ ↑ temp
Hydrogen ions
extremely reactive = dissolve minerals from rocks/soil
acidity
concentration of H+ ions in solution
pH
measure of acidity
- pH = - log [H+]
Acid deposition(rain)
acid deposited as rain/snow/gases attach to surfaces of plants/soil/water
- causes: leaches calcium and soil nutrients, causes aluminum to diccolve in water
- (-) affects nutrient uptake = tree/plant death
Osmoregulation
mechanisms to maintain solute balance in organism
