Fresh water eels adaptation to Salt water

In summary, the conversation discusses the difficulty that fish face in maintaining internal salt and water balance, also known as osmoregulation. It is mentioned that most fish are confined to either fresh water or salt water and cannot adapt to the other environment. However, some fish, such as salmon and eels, are able to switch between the two environments. The conversation also suggests using a Google search for more information on osmoregulation in fish.
  • #1
nautica
Anybody have any ideas on where I could find some info on this. It is for a comparitive physiology course and I believe our book was written for 3rd graders (Schmit-Neilsen, Knut) so it is not much help.

Our school library is pretty worthless, also.

Thanks
Nautica
 
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  • #2
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
  • #3
"Most fish are confined entirely to fresh water (FW) or seawater (SW) and cannot live in or adapt to the other environment. What may be surprising is that the internal salts and organic molecules (solutes) in the blood of all bony fishes are maintained in an "intermediate" concentration (which is actually similar to that in mammals). In other words, fish in salt water may suffer stress because they are living in a medium about 3 times as salty as their blood and therefore must "pump out" extra salt that is ingested. This requires molecular transport proteins (such as the sodium/potassium pump and other ion pumps and channels). FW fish, on the other hand, face the problem of becoming "waterlogged". In other words, the higher concentrations of salts in their tissues and blood cause the fish to gain water by diffusion (also called osmosis). These fish must rid themselves of the extra water and conserve salts. They do this by using molecular transport proteins. In general the control of internal salt and water balance (osmoregulation) requires significant metabolic energy to power it. As most people know, a small number of fish like salmon and eels spend a part of their life in FW and part of their life in SW. These fish literally switchover from the FW metabolism to the SW metabolism, a process that may be metabolically stressful. (...)"
from: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/servlet/showaward?award=0111860

Just google for "eels osmoregulation" or "fresh salt water osmoregulation fish" ;)
 
  • #4
http://www.csuchico.edu/~pmaslin/ichthy/xcrtn.html [Broken]

That's a nice overview over osmoregulation, with two basic sketches halfway down the page.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #5
cool, thanks
 

1. What are some physical adaptations that enable fresh water eels to survive in salt water?

Fresh water eels have developed a specialized organ called the rectal gland that helps them to excrete excess salt from their bodies. They also have thicker skin and a lower concentration of blood salt compared to marine eels, allowing them to retain their body fluids in a high-salt environment.

2. How do fresh water eels obtain their necessary nutrients in a salt water environment?

Fresh water eels have adapted to feed on a wider variety of prey in the ocean, including small fish, crustaceans, and other marine invertebrates. They also have a more robust digestive system that can break down and absorb nutrients from these salt water sources.

3. Do fresh water eels have any behavioral adaptations to help them survive in salt water?

Yes, fresh water eels have been observed to change their migration patterns to adapt to salt water environments. They may also alter their feeding and mating behaviors to better suit their new surroundings.

4. Are there any physiological changes that occur in fresh water eels when they transition to salt water?

Yes, fresh water eels experience changes in their metabolism and hormone levels as they adapt to salt water. These changes help them to maintain the proper balance of fluids and salts in their bodies.

5. How long does it take for fresh water eels to adapt to salt water?

The adaptation process can vary depending on the individual eel and its specific environment. Some studies have shown that it can take up to several months for fresh water eels to fully adapt to salt water conditions.

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