Essential Fish Biology: Diversity, Structure and FunctionEssential Fish Biology provides an introductory overview of the functional biology of fish and how this may be affected by the widely contrasting habitat conditions within the aquatic environment. It describes the recent advances in comparative animal physiology which have greatly influenced our understanding of fish function as well as generating questions that have yet to be resolved. Fish taxa represent the largest number of vertebrates, with over 25,000 extant species. However, much of our knowledge, apart from taxonomy and habitat descriptions, has been based on relatively few of them, usually those which live in fresh water and/or are of commercial interest. Unfortunately there has also been a tendency to base our interpretation of fish physiology on that of mammalian systems, as well as to rely on a few type species of fish. This accessible textbook will redress the balance by using examples of fish from a wide range of species and habitats, emphasizing diversity as well as recognizing shared attributes with other vertebrates. |
Contents
1 Fish diversity | 1 |
2 The integument | 27 |
3 The skeleton support and movement | 47 |
4 Food procurement and processing | 75 |
blood and circulation | 100 |
6 Gas exchange | 116 |
7 Metabolism homeostasis and growth | 131 |
8 Excretion | 152 |
the nervous system | 216 |
12 Perception and sensation | 241 |
13 Special adaptations | 264 |
14 Fish behaviour | 283 |
15 Obtaining information | 300 |
16 Conservation and fish function | 311 |
Glossary | 323 |
References | 345 |
Other editions - View all
Essential Fish Biology: Diversity, Structure, and Function Derek Burton,Margaret Burton Limited preview - 2017 |
Essential Fish Biology: Diversity, Structure, and Function Derek Burton,Margaret Burton No preview available - 2017 |
Common terms and phrases
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