Species and Adaptations
What is a group of individuals sharing common characteristics, and whose offspring also share those characteristics.
Species
What do fish use to breathe underwater?
Gills
What kind of fish are most Texas species?
warm water fish
What is the main characteristic of invertebrates?
They lack a backbone.
What part of the fish's body is mostly made of muscle?
Up to 80% of a fish’s body.
What adaptation allows birds to fly?
Wings
What is the function of a fish’s swim bladder?
What is the role of phytoplankton in aquatic ecosystems?
They are primary producers that photosynthesize and provide food and oxygen.
What is the role of zooplankton in the aquatic food web?
They are important food for small fish.
Which fin is primarily used to help fish move forward?
The caudal (tail) fin.
Definition: A behavioral, structural, or physiological trait that increases a species’ chance of survival in a specific environment.
Adaptation
What adaptation allows fish to live in different salinities of water?
Osmoregulation
How many species of fish are identified worldwide?
More than 36,000 species.
Name a type of mollusk with a hard shell.
Clams, oysters, scallops, mussels, or snails.
How do fish like the largemouth bass move through water?
By a side-to-side wiggle that starts at its head and moves backward along its body.
What type of organisms live in water and have adaptations to survive there?
Aquatic Organisms
Name an organ fish have that humans also have.
Heart, stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, gall bladder, or spleen.
Name one type of aquatic plant adaptation.
Air channels in leaves, floating leaves, or divided leaves.
What adaptation do aquatic insects like dragonflies have?
They undergo metamorphosis, with at least one phase spent in water.
What is the role of the dorsal fin in fish?
To help keep the fish upright and stable.
What do humans, mallards, and bluegills have in common?
They are all distinct species.
What are euryhaline fish?
Fish that can live in freshwater, brackish, and saltwater.
What is the primary function of seagrass beds in estuaries?
They provide nutrients, protective cover, and food for aquatic animals.
What are crustaceans, and give an example.
Aquatic animals with an exoskeleton, like crayfish, shrimp, or lobster.
What type of fish body shape allows for speed?
Torpedo-shaped.