Adaptations to Aquatic Environments

High specific heat and density changes with temperature

Thermal Properties of Water

Air pockets and fats/oils

Examples of float adaptations

Fusiform (streamlined) Bauplan

A bauplan designed to reduce drag and increase speed

Filamentous Appendages

Appendages used to increase drag

Photosynthetic Limit

The maximum depth where marine plants and algae can successfully use sunlight to produce food and survive

Biofluorescence

A creature absorbing light at one wavelength and emitting it as a new wavelength

Collapsible air cavities or no air cavities

Pressure Adaptations

Saturation

How much dissolved gas or mineral is held in seawater compared to the maximum amount it can naturally hold at a specific temperature, pressure, and salinity

Osmosis

The movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane

Osmotic Potential

The force with which an aqueous solution attracts water by osmosis

Hyperosmotic

When sea water has a higher concentration of salt and minerals (solutes) than the fluids inside a living creature's cells

Hyposmotic

The surrounding ocean water has a lower salt concentration than the fluids inside an animals body cells

Passive Transport

The movement of substances across a cell membrane without using any cell energy, typically from a high → low concentration

Active Transport

The movement of molecules or ions through a membrane against a concentration gradient

Freshwater Salinization

The process where freshwater sources become saltier due to human activities or natural changes

Boundary Layer

A region of unstirred air or water that surrounds the surface of an object

21% oxygen by volume

How much oxygen is in a liter of air?

Concurrent Exchange

Water and blood flow in the same direction, only allowing blood to absorb 50% of oxygen

Countercurrent Exchange

Blood and water flow opposite directions, allowing 80-85% of oxygen to be absorbed

Homeotherm

An organism that maintains a constant internal temperature

Poikilotherm

An organism whose internal body temperature changes and matches the temperature of its surroundings

Endotherm

An animal that generates its own body heat from the inside

Ectotherm

An animal that relies on its outer environment to control its body temperature

Heterotherm

An animal that can switch between being warm-blooded and cold-blooded depending on its situation

Thermal Optimum

The temperature at which an organism performs the best

Thermophiles

Heat lovers with heat tolerant proteins formed by amino acids with stronger bonds

Regional Endothermy (rete mirabile)

An animal keeps specific parts of its body warm while letting the rest of its body match the temperature of the surrounding environment

Glycoproteins

“Anti-freeze” compounds that can be used to lower the freezing point of water

Supercooling

Glycoproteins found in the blood prevent ice formation in the body by coating ice crystals that begin to form