Author Question: The most massive part of Earth's climate system belongs to the ________. A) atmosphere B) ... (Read 64 times)

joe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
The most massive part of Earth's climate system belongs to the ________.
 
  A) atmosphere
  B) biosphere
  C) cryosphere
  D) geosphere
  E) hydrosphere

Question 2

Compare and contrast adaptations of fishes and marine mammals to life in the pelagic environment.
 
  What will be an ideal response?



sabina576

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 356
Answer to Question 1

E

Answer to Question 2

Swimming, or nektonic, organisms include invertebrate squids, fish, sea turtles, and marine mammals. Most squid possess long, slender bodies with paired fins and must remain active to stay afloat. However, a few species, such as Sepia and Spirula, have a hollow gas-filled chamber in their bodies to help them remain afloat and so they can be less active. Squid can swim about as fast as any fish their size and do so by drawing water into their body cavity and then expelling the water out through their siphon, propelling themselves backward. Fish use a variety of fins for swimming. Most commonly, movement is achieved as a fish alternately contracts and relaxes its myomeres on either side of its body, generating a curvature that travels the length of its body, ending in the tail or caudal fin and generating thrust. This type of swimming motion is called thunniform. In some cases, fish sacrifice speed for maneuverability, such as in crowded reef environments, or for camouflage by moving only their small transparent fins. As a result, other types of swimming motions involve using various sets of fins. Although all marine mammals have an aquatic existence, their ancestors were land animals. Some whale ancestors had small, unusable hind legs, suggesting that the land mammal predecessor had no need for its hind legs when it developed a large paddle-shaped structure for a tail used to swim through water. Other fossils show a remarkable progression of skeletal adaptations for an increasingly aquatic existence, such as the migration of the blowhole (nostrils) toward the top of the head, upper vertebrae that become increasingly fused, shrinking hip and ankle structures, and jawbone and ear components adapted for under-water hearing. Polar bears are a marine mammal with massive webbed paws that make them excellent swimmers. The polar bear's fur is thick, and each hair is hollow to trap air for better insulation; the hairs also function like fiber optic cables by channeling sunlight to the animal's dark/black skin that absorbs heat from sunlight.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question

sabina576

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 356

 

Did you know?

Vaccines cause herd immunity. If the majority of people in a community have been vaccinated against a disease, an unvaccinated person is less likely to get the disease since others are less likely to become sick from it and spread the disease.

Did you know?

In 1886, William Bates reported on the discovery of a substance produced by the adrenal gland that turned out to be epinephrine (adrenaline). In 1904, this drug was first artificially synthesized by Friedrich Stolz.

Did you know?

No drugs are available to relieve parathyroid disease. Parathyroid disease is caused by a parathyroid tumor, and it needs to be removed by surgery.

Did you know?

More than 50% of American adults have oral herpes, which is commonly known as "cold sores" or "fever blisters." The herpes virus can be active on the skin surface without showing any signs or causing any symptoms.

Did you know?

To maintain good kidney function, you should drink at least 3 quarts of water daily. Water dilutes urine and helps prevent concentrations of salts and minerals that can lead to kidney stone formation. Chronic dehydration is a major contributor to the development of kidney stones.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library