Perks of Being a Perch
By Jennifer Lang Vu-Pap Bio-3
Objective
Background Information-Perca flavescens
Species Perca flavescens
Genus Perca
Family Percidae
Order Perciformes
Class Actinopyerygil
Phylum Chordata
Kingdom Animalia
Perches live in freshwater areas. A Perch has a slender body shape, two dorsal fins, and one anal fin characterised by a greenish-yellow colour. It is a predator that hides in reeds and rushes to attack smaller fish as prey. The Perch is a long fish for its size, and can grow up to 15 inches long. A large one can weigh over four pounds, but they are usually much smaller.
Ecological Niche
Habitat
Predator
Prey
Yellow perch are found in rivers, ponds and many lakes throughout the country. Adult perch are about 4 to 15 inches long. They eat small fish, zooplankton, crayfish, fish eggs, worms and more.
Body System- Circulatory
The Heart
The Afferent/Efferent/Renal/ Hepatic Branchial Artery
The Atrium
The Anterior/Posterior cardinal vein
The Hepativ portal vein
The Hepatic/Renal vein
The Ventricle
The circulatory system of a perch contains a heart that has one atrium and one ventricle. Deoxygenated blood is pumped through the heart to the gills. Then, it is being changed to oxygen and sent back through the body of the fish.This system is also known as the transport system. It is responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. The perch has a single looped circulatory system and low blood pressure. The pressure is maintained by the swimming its constant moving habits. The blood of the perch moves from the heart to the lungs to the body and back to the heart, and to prevent the backflow of blood from occurring there are valves that keep the blood flow moving in one direction.
External Anatomy
The lateral line is a sensory organ that senses pressure, currents, and movement through water.
Internal Anatomy
The gills allow the fish to breath underwater. The air bladder allows the fish to go to different levels of water and not sink. The vent is where the waste is eliminated from the fish. The gonads is where all the gametes are produced.
Closed Circulatory System
This system is responsible for carrying the oxygen poor blood to the gills and the oxygen rich blood to the body tissues. Since the blood is enclosed in vessels, the blood never comes directly in contact with cells in the perch’s body. The blood that is pumped throughout the body consists of oxygen and nutrients that the cells need in order to survive. Considering the blood doesn’t directly come in contact with the cells doesn’t mean that the oxygen and nutrients can’t get to the cells. The oxygen and the nutrients go through the thin capillary walls and into the cells that depend on oxygen and nutrients.
Human Impact
Perches are really delicious so a lot of people are eating them, but the perches are also eating away all the other small fishes. This makes it hard for people to gather a variety of food to eat.
FUN FACTS
-Perches are carnivorous. You wouldn't imagine such small and delicate fishes to eat meat!
-They use their fins as a defense when threatened. If there is an animal that they find dangerous, they would use their fins to protect themselves.
-The female perches release their eggs in long gelatinous strands that usually hang from vegetation.