Download Question Set 1: 20 points

Marine Vertebrates: Study questions for Exam 1
1.
List and describe the major challenges of the marine environment that are encountered by marine
vertebrates.
2.
Subphylum Myxini (hagfish!)
a.
What derived characteristics separate the hagfish from the other non-vertebrate chordates?
b.
Why are hagfish (Subphylum Myxini) not included in Subphylum Vertebrata?
c.
Briefly describe how a hagfish feeds, and on what.
d.
What is the role of slime in the hagfish? And how do they remove this slime from their
bodies?
e.
Why would anyone want to fish for hagfish?
3.
Subphylum Vertebrata, Class Cephalaspidomorphi
a.
What derived character do lampreys have that hagfish do not, that thus place them within
Subphylum Vertebrata?
b.
Compare feeding mechanisms and prey types in Cephalaspidomorphi with those of
Myxini.
c.
What ecological disaster sometimes occurs when lampreys are introduced to lakes and
rivers that they did not formerly inhabit?
4.
List/briefly describe the three major evolutionary changes that occurred after the lampreys but
prior to the Chondrichthyes (i.e. for the “Gnathostomes”.)
5.
What is the likely structural origin of jaws? Of fins?
6.
What material comprises most of the shark’s skeleton? Which parts of a shark’s skeleton are
mineralized?
7.
What feature of shark teeth makes them the most common vertebrate fossil? Also, describe the
two general morphologies of shark teeth and how they differ in function.
8.
Describe the attachment of the upper jaw to the skull in a shark. In what ways does this affect the
shark’s feeding behavior?
9.
What is a spiral valve (location/appearance/function), and in which type of fish are they found?
10.
Describe the scales of Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii. What role do the scales play in
swimming?
11.
Describe three mechanisms that help a shark maintain approximately neutral buoyancy.
12.
List and describe the three patterns of respiration in Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii (i.e. “ram
jet”, etc…)
13.
Describe the solute concentration of Elasmobranchii compared to seawater and describe the
mechanisms by which it maintains its osmolarity.
14.
Name the major orders of the Elasmobranchii, key characteristics that place sharks in the
particular order, and representative members. (NOTE: On an exam, you will need to recognize
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the names of the major orders of sharks as well as the key features/members, with a focus on those
we studied most intensively.)
15.
Great white sharks!
a.
Briefly explain the bite-and-spit hypothesis of Tricas and McCosker (1984), including the
evidence they used to develop their hypothesis.
b.
Describe how evidence from actual shark attacks witnessed and videotaped by Klimley,
Pyle and Anderson (1996) appears to contradict this hypothesis.
c.
Describe at least three major differences observed for great white shark attacks on phocids
(true seals) vs. otariids (eared seals, i.e. sea lions) by Klimley et al. (1996) and provide an
explanation for these differences based on adaptive value to the shark, differences between
seals and sea lions, and other relevant factors.
16.
Explain how basking sharks and whale sharks feed, pointing out similarities and differences in
feeding mechanisms and prey. Also indicate to which Order each belongs.
17.
Describe the process of countercurrent exchange of oxygen uptake in fish gills and countercurrent
heat exchange in the great white shark. In addition, explain the significance of this mechanism to
each animal. You must include a diagram with each
18.
What do angelsharks eat, and which sensory modality do they use to detect their prey? Also,
briefly describe how they capture their prey.
19.
Provide at least two hypotheses to explain the odd-shaped head of the hammerhead shark. (Two
distinct hypotheses were provided in class.)
20.
How is it possible for several species of closely-related reef sharks, all predatory, to be associated
with the same reef?
21.
Explain how the relatively slow-moving cookie-cutter shark is able to take bites out of fastmoving fish such as tuna.
22.
What is the defining difference between skates (Order Rajiformes) and rays (various orders)?
NOTE: Don’t worry about more subtle differences…
23.
Where are the electric organs of the Torpediniformes
24.
Which fish are in the Class Chondrichthyes, Subclass Holocephali? Describe several ways they
differ from the Subclass Elasmobranchii.
25.
What key characteristic distinguishes the Class Osteichthyes from Class Chondrichthyes? (Note
that there are several differences, but one feature in particular defines the Osteichthyes and the rest
of the vertebrates beyond this branchpoint.)
26.
Describe the initial the position and connections of the lung/swim bladder to the intestine, and
describe how these have changed through time among different groups of fish. Also, indicate
which best exemplifies the tetrapod condition.
27.
Briefly compare the skull/cranium of Osteichthyes to that of Chondrichthyes.
28.
Which group(s) of fish has fins that are most similar to the limbs of tetrapods?
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29.
List/describe the key features of coelacanths, making comparisons to other groups of fish as you
do so. Key features you discuss should include:
a.
Vertebral column and any other unique skeletal features (as compared to either
Chondrichthyes or Osteichthyes: Actinopterygii)
b.
Regulation of buoyancy
c.
Osmotic regulation
d.
Swimming/hunting behavior (which fins are used for swimming; what type of predator are
they).
30.
What key feature distinguishes the Subclass Sarcopterygii from the Subclass Actinopterygii?
31.
Sturgeons
a.
List/describe four anatomical characteristics that sturgeons have in common with the
Elasmobranchii.
b.
How do sturgeons eat?
c.
Are sturgeon populations thriving or threatened?
d.
What is the major commercial value of sturgeon?
32.
What are chromatophores? What are iridophores?
33.
What is the potential adaptive value of bright/distinctive coloration in reef fish? You should be
able to provide at least four hypotheses.
34.
What is countershading?
35.
Parrotfish, damselfish and tangs are all reef herbivores. Describe the unique method/adaptations
that each uses to obtain algae
36.
Planktivores
a.
List/describe some of the different niches of reef planktivores in terms of either their
location or their strategies for obtaining plankton.
b.
What key role does the protrusible mouth play in the planktivores?
c.
(NOTE: You will be provided a list of common names for all fish studied to help jog your
memory in answering this type of question.)
37.
What is the feeding niche of angelfish and butterflyfish, and how are they adapted for this role?
38.
How do pufferfish protect themselves? (More than one way…)
39.
Discuss the various types of strategies that reef carnivores employ to catch larger prey. You
should name specific fish here if possible.
40.
By what common method do goatfish and triggerfish locate their prey?
41.
Describe the major adaptations of deep-sea fishes to their environment, being sure to compare
mesopelagic and bathypelagic fish.
42.
How is it possible for ~72 species of rockfish in the same genus, Sebastes, to coexist off the coast
of the NE Pacific? (*HINT: See reef shark question.)
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43.
What is the feeding niche of the halibut? How is the halibut adapted to this niche? How do young
juvenile halibuts differ from the adults.
44.
Describe the physical appearance of a Mola mola. What do they eat?
45.
In what habitat might you find a male midshipmen fish during breeding season?
46.
Why are there no marine amphibians?
47.
Reptilian features
a.
List the several key features of reptiles
b.
Indicate which of these characteristics have helped them to adapt to the marine
environment, and conversely, which may actually limit their ability to be fully aquatic.
48.
List/describe several features of the salt-water crocodile that are adaptations to the marine
environment.
49.
Where are marine iguanas found, and to what land iguana are they closely related?
50.
List/describe several features of the marine iguana that are adaptations to the marine environment.
51.
What do marine iguanas eat? If you did not already do so for the previous question, describe
adaptations that help them feed in on this particular type of food.
52.
Martin Wikelski and Corina Thom discovered that marine iguanas shrunk by up to 20% in body
length during two separate El Niño events. What was the environmental cause of this shrinkage?
53.
Describe several adaptations of true sea snakes (Family Hydrophiidae) to the marine environment.
54.
Are sea snakes always solitary?
55.
In what way(s) are sea snakes better-adapted to the marine environment than sea turtles?
56.
How do sea kraits differ from sea snakes in terms of their adaptations to the marine environment?
57.
Compare the structural components of the carapace and plastron of sea turtles in the Family
Cheloniidae with those in the Family Dermochelydae.
58.
Describe the differences in beak structure among different turtle species and explain how these
differences in beak morphology are related to feeding behavior/food type.
59.
How are the limbs of sea turtles specialized for swimming? Which bones support the main
portion of the flipper (i.e. what are they equivalent to in your own arms/hands and legs/feet?)
Compare the size and role of the forelimbs vs. the hindlimbs. How do the limbs of sea turtles
compare to those of land turtles and freshwater turtles?
60.
Given that sea turtles are ectothermic, how are they able to maintain body temperatures sufficient
to allow for efficient swimming (several mechanisms)? What happens to sea turtles in the water
when they are unable to maintain the body temperature needed for swimming?
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61.
What is “basking”? When/where does it occur and what are its functions (both definite and
hypothesized)? When basking on land, how do sea turtles keep from overheating?
62.
Describe how sea turtles keep from ingesting excess water with their food, including key
structures.
63.
What is the function of salt glands and where are they located in sea turtles? How effective are
they? Why do hatchlings have larger salt glands in proportion to their body size than adults?
64.
Describe the key anatomical/physiological adaptations of sea turtles for diving.
65.
What species of sea turtle holds the diving depth record? Approximately how deep was the
deepest dive recorded for this species, and what marine mammal has similar capabilities? Does
this species have any particular adaptations that make it better-suited for diving than other turtle
species?
66.
Which species of sea turtle has the longest recorded dive?
67.
How is sex (gender) determined in sea turtles? What changes in sex ratios are likely to occur with
increases in global temperatures?
68.
In studies on leatherback turtles that examined the consequences of skewed sex ratios:
a.
What aspects of reproductive success were measured?
b.
What were the key results?
c.
Did the results suggest that the low proportion of male hatchlings had a deleterious effect
on reproductive success? Explain.
d.
Explain how it is possible for there to be 2-3 males/female at the breeding grounds even
though ≥3 times as many females initially hatch (>1 possible reason).
69.
Which species of sea turtle grows the most quickly and reaches sexual maturity most rapidly?
Which species of sea turtle grows the slowest and also does not reach sexual maturity until at least
its late twenties? What factors might help explain this difference in the two species?
70.
Describe several ways that leatherbacks can be considered the “record holders” of the sea turtle
world.
71.
How far north are leatherbacks found (northern hemisphere), and why are leatherbacks better able
to deal cold temperatures than members of Family Cheloniidae?
72.
Explain the seemingly paradoxical ability of leatherback turtles to be the fastest-growing sea turtle
despite the fact that it primarily preys on jellyfish that are 97% water.
73.
Why do nesting leatherbacks sometimes appear to have a pinkish tinge?
74.
Why are hawksbill turtles important to the reef ecosystem and how might their loss affect the reef
ecosystem?
75.
What makes the meat of hawksbill sea turtles toxic?
76.
What makes green sea turtles green?
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77.
What is an “arribada” and which species of sea turtle participates in these? (Note that another,
closely-related species does this as well.)
78.
For each of the four focus species of sea turtle, you should know
a.
Where they are found (i.e. throughout tropics and subtropics or more restricted? How far
north they go in the northern hemisphere, if information provided?)
b.
Their major food resource(s)
c.
Unique aspects of their life-history
d.
Their conservation status (level of endangerment)
e.
The major threats to each.
79.
What attempts have been made to bring the Kemp’s Ridley turtles back from their “severely
endangered” status? Has there been any success?
80.
If you see sea turtle jewelry, from what species is it most likely to have come?
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