Salt Levels: Why High Molarity Can't Support Marine Life

AI Thread Summary
High molarity salt environments cannot sustain most marine life due to the effects of osmosis, which can cause fish cells to either swell and burst or shrivel up, depending on the surrounding salt concentration. Typically, fish and other macrobiotic organisms struggle to survive in salinity levels above +2M. However, certain organisms known as halophiles or halotolerant species have adapted to thrive in these extreme conditions. These adaptations allow them to manage the osmotic pressure that would otherwise be detrimental to their survival.
MercuryRising
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
Bodies with high molarity of salt (salt levels) cannot sustain marine life? but why? please help. thanks!
 
Biology news on Phys.org
Osmosis: unless the concentration is the same as in your (the fish's) body, osmosis will occur and the cells in your (the fish's) body will either blow up like balloons until they explode or shrivel up.
 
Your question is somewhat dependent on what you mean by "marine life", if you are referring to fish and other macrobiotics then yes they typically don't do well in environments with salinity into the +2M range. However search the terms halophile (translated: salt-loving) or halotolerant and you will see that numerous lifeforms have adapted to life under such extreme conditions. You should also be able to find out how these organisms beat the process of osmolysis brought up by russ_watters.
 

Thread 'Flesh-eating New World Screwworm re-occurrence in US'

Deadly cattle screwworm parasite found in US patient. What to know. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/08/25/new-world-screwworm-human-case/85813010007/ Exclusive: U.S. confirms nation's first travel-associated human screwworm case connected to Central American outbreak https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-confirms-nations-first-travel-associated-human-screwworm-case-connected-2025-08-25/...
View full post »

Thread 'Chagas disease now established in US'

Chagas disease, long considered only a threat abroad, is established in California and the Southern U.S. According to articles in the Los Angeles Times, "Chagas disease, long considered only a threat abroad, is established in California and the Southern U.S.", and "Kissing bugs bring deadly disease to California". LA Times requires a subscription. Related article -...
View full post »

Thread 'I need help understanding this quote about recent Natural Selection'

I am reading Nicholas Wade's book A Troublesome Inheritance. Please let's not make this thread a critique about the merits or demerits of the book. This thread is my attempt to understanding the evidence that Natural Selection in the human genome was recent and regional. On Page 103 of A Troublesome Inheritance, Wade writes the following: "The regional nature of selection was first made evident in a genomewide scan undertaken by Jonathan Pritchard, a population geneticist at the...
View full post »

Similar threads

Why is sweat composed of water and salt?
Replies
5
Views
2K
The importance of water for life
Replies
2
Views
2K
Medical Why is potassium important in controlling blood pressure?
Replies
8
Views
7K
Why is Carbon Essential for Supporting Life on Earth?
Replies
5
Views
2K
Why does salt reduce the freezing point of water?
Replies
5
Views
7K
The Origin of Life, the relationships between life and Energy
Replies
25
Views
5K
B Can Himalayan Salt Dissolve in Candle Wax?
Replies
48
Views
22K
Understanding the Grounding of Transformers in Marine Electrical Systems
Replies
15
Views
4K
Introducing a Multifaceted Engineer: From Construction to Marine Applications
Replies
1
Views
662
Scientists Finding Strange Life Forms in Great Salt Lake
Replies
3
Views
6K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top