This Smells Fishy-Perch Dissection
Elizabeth Tyska-Vu-7th Period Pre-AP Biology
O-FISH-al Objectives
Pre-dissection Perch
Mid-dissection Perch
Post-dissection Perch (Dorsal Side)
FISHing for Background Information
It lives in freshwater lakes with submerged vegetation. You can find this fish almost everywhere in the United States and other areas in North America. Perch prefer standing water near shore with some vegetation for protection, food, and cover.
They eat insect and their larvae, some invertebrates, small fish and crustaceans, and snails, depending on where they live. Perch are carnivorous, but some species have been know to eat zoo plankton. Perch are eaten by larger fish, like Largemouth and Smallmouth Basses, Black Crappies, Walleyes, and Bluegills. Some large birds also eat perch, including herons, gulls, eagles, hawks, kingfishers, and mergansers. Humans also eat perch. They are a popular fish to catch for recreational purposes, and there are many recipes for how to properly cook them.
Perch are in the middle of the freshwater lake food chain, as they are carnivores, and eat smaller fish, but are eaten by other predators. They help maintain the populations of pests in areas, and in turn their populations are maintained by other predators.
Perch have adapted well in their habitats, with coloring designed for them to blend in to the plants and teeth that can catch other smaller fish. Their gills are also designed to filter out zoo plankton from the water. They have evolved from the spiny ray fish, alongside the catfish, bass, and carp.
Internal Anatomy
FISHy Circulatory System
A perch's circulatory system is closed, meaning the blood stays in the vessels. This blood travels throughout the body in a single loop of veins, with a few branching arteries.
A Simplified Anatomical Representation
Bibliography
- "FIsh Puns." Andrew Pyle, n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2014. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fishpuns.com%2F>.
- "Action Items." Fish Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2014. <http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/fishfacts/yellowperch.asp>.
- "Yellow Perch Information." Yellow Perch Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. <http://www.stoneflysociety.org/fishinfo/yellowperch.htm>.
- "Perch Facts." Perch Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2014. <http://www.utahoutdoors.com/pages/perchfacts.htm>.
- "Yellow Perch." Yellow Perch. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2014. <http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/yellow_perch.htm>.
- "Comparative Anatomy: Earthworm, Frog, Snake, Shark, Perch, Pigeon, Pig." Comparative Anatomy: Earthworm, Frog, Snake, Shark, Perch, Pigeon, Pig. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. <http://www.smithlifescience.com/comparativeanatomy.htm>.
- Lab Packet