What is the method of nitrogenous waste removal for the following & choose between ammonia, urea or uric acid
Tunicates
Fishes
Amphibians
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals
I think tunicates are urea and fishes are ammonia? But please help because I'm not sure and I don't know the rest
To determine the method of nitrogenous waste removal for different organisms, we need to consider their habitat and physiological characteristics. Nitrogenous waste removal is essential to maintain proper pH and osmotic balance in the body. There are primarily three main nitrogenous waste products generated by organisms: ammonia, urea, and uric acid. Different organisms have different strategies for removing these wastes.
1. Tunicates (Marine Invertebrates): Tunicates are filter-feeding marine invertebrates. They eliminate their nitrogenous waste in the form of urea. Urea is less toxic than ammonia and allows tunicates to live in aquatic environments with varying salinity levels.
2. Fishes: Fishes can remove nitrogenous waste using both ammonia and urea, depending on their environment. Most fishes are ammonotelic, meaning they primarily excrete ammonia. However, some species such as cartilaginous fish (sharks, rays) are ureotelic and excrete urea. These adaptations allow fishes to survive in either freshwater or saltwater environments.
3. Amphibians: Amphibians, like frogs and salamanders, are ammonotelic. They excrete nitrogenous wastes primarily in the form of ammonia. Amphibians have a high water turnover rate, which helps dilute and eliminate the toxic ammonia efficiently.
4. Reptiles: Most reptiles, including turtles, lizards, and snakes, are also ammonotelic. They mainly excrete ammonia as their nitrogenous waste. However, some reptiles, like marine reptiles, may have additional adaptations to minimize water loss, such as reabsorbing water from the urine.
5. Birds: Birds are unique in their nitrogenous waste removal strategy. They are uricotelic, meaning they excrete nitrogenous waste in the form of uric acid. Uric acid is semi-solid, with low water content, which minimizes water loss, an important adaptation for birds that need to conserve water during flight.
6. Mammals: Mammals, including humans, are ureotelic. They excrete nitrogenous waste primarily in the form of urea. Urea is less toxic than ammonia and requires less water for its elimination, making it suitable for terrestrial mammals.
In summary:
- Tunicates excrete urea.
- Fishes can excrete either ammonia or urea, depending on the species.
- Amphibians excrete ammonia.
- Reptiles generally excrete ammonia.
- Birds excrete uric acid.
- Mammals, including humans, excrete urea.
Remember that while this information is generally accurate, there may be exceptions within each group. It's always good to refer to specific species for precise details.