What is a role of the kidney in freshwater fish?
(A) To remove water from the fish
(B) To absorb salt from the environment
(C) To excrete concentrated urine from the fish
(D) To decrease nitrogenous waste lost to the environment - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 14 - 2012 - Paper 1
Question 14
What is a role of the kidney in freshwater fish?
(A) To remove water from the fish
(B) To absorb salt from the environment
(C) To excrete concentrated urine from ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:What is a role of the kidney in freshwater fish?
(A) To remove water from the fish
(B) To absorb salt from the environment
(C) To excrete concentrated urine from the fish
(D) To decrease nitrogenous waste lost to the environment - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 14 - 2012 - Paper 1
Step 1
To remove water from the fish
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Answer
Freshwater fish are constantly gaining water from their environment due to osmosis. The kidneys play a crucial role in balancing this influx of water. They help to remove excess water from the bloodstream, ensuring that the fish maintains proper osmotic balance.
Step 2
To absorb salt from the environment
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Answer
Due to their dilute environment, freshwater fish face challenges in obtaining enough salt. They absorb salt through their gills and other tissues rather than primarily relying on the kidneys for this function.
Step 3
To excrete concentrated urine from the fish
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Answer
Freshwater fish excrete large volumes of dilute urine to rid their bodies of excess water, rather than concentrating their urine. Thus, this option is incorrect.
Step 4
To decrease nitrogenous waste lost to the environment
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Answer
The kidneys are involved in filtering out and excreting nitrogenous wastes. However, in freshwater fish, the primary method of excretion is through the gills and urine, rather than directly focusing on minimizing loss to the environment.
