PERCHasing some Knowledge
Perch Dissection, PRE-AP BIOLOGY, RACHEL LU
Objectives
In this digital Lab, we will be given the opportunity to observe the placement of organs and their relationships to one another. The systems that are identified are the endocrine and the circulatory, but in this case we will be focusing on the circulatory system.
Perca
The perch's name is commonly used to describe a fish of the perca genus. Though there are some species under this genus, there are not many so they will not be covered individually but as a whole. The perch circulatory system consists of a heart that has an atrium and a ventricle. The non-oxygenated blood is pumped through the heart and onward towards the gills. There it is oxygenated and send back to the body of the perch to be used.
What's for Dinner?
The perch is not an organism that is preyed on alot, nor is it on top of the food chain. They generally eat small fish, crayfish, other fish eggs, and worms. Some organisms that prey on them are fishes that are larger than them, such as walleye, pike, and large mouth bass. Humans are also a predator to the perch, because their flesh is very tasty.
Swimming back Home
The perch are commonly found in many areas such as ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers. They mate/spawn in the spring time, when the female will lay a string of her eggs in sheltered areas like nearby branches or underwater plants. Perch can be found all over the world, but the most common place to find them would be in the Great Lakes of America (particularly Lake Erie).
Bony Fish (Perch) Anatomy
Just doing their thing
A perch's ecological role is to be as secondary consumer. They are carnivores, so they are definitely not first level consumers. The perch is also not onto of the food chain therefore that leaves them to be somewhere in the third of fourth trophic level. Many ecological adaptations have come upon the perch which has allowed it to become such an invasive species. Something that benefits it immensely is that it can live in almost any water condition, from eutrophic (has many nutrients in it) water to turbid (has many dirt particles) water. They can filter out zoo-plankton with their gills, and they have special teeth that allows them to be able to eat other fish with ease.
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Classifications of a regular perch
Phylogeny tree
Going from the sub-family of a perch down to the genus level.
Too many fish in the sea to miss one
Perch is caught because many humans like to eat them for their delicious, but mild flavor. They will eat almost anything for a bait, therefore it is relatively simple and easy to catch them. Because it is so simple to catch them, restaurants often feature them on their menus. Delicious and simple.
Internal Organs
The basic organs are the kidney, swim bladder, esophagus, pharynx, anus, stomach, intestines, liver, heart, and gills.
Circulatory System
In the circulatory system, the blood goes from the ventricle (which pumps it towards the body) and it goes to the artery which then carries the blood to the gill capillaries. There the blood will fill with oxygen and be carried to the body/systemic capillaries. The blood will now return to the heart through the vein and enter at the atrium. The atrium will pump the blood back into the ventricle and the cycle will repeat. The circulatory system is closed. The endocrine system needs the circulatory systems, because some hormones/ enzymes will travel in the circulatory system with the blood.The function of the circulatory system is that it pumps the blood to the rest of the body, which allows the organism a consistent and abundant supply of oxygen. Also the circulatory system can transport things such as nutrients and waste.
Diagram of Perch
Another diagram to further clarify things
Something Fishy is going on
The perch is being over fished in many areas, while in other areas they are a risk because they are an invasive species. An example would be the Nile Perch. It was carnivorous so it ate many of the native fish population, therefore deeming itself as an invasive species. Our water system is also encouraging native fish species to die out, because they are not use to such harsh living conditions as the perch is.
South Dakota Double Header - Perch & Crappie - In-Depth Outdoors TV Season 8, Episode 4