Vertebrate Zoology Spring 2004 Exam 2

Answer any 50 points of the following . I am expecting more information from the 15 point questions than from the 10 point than from the 5 point. Use illustrations as needed.

1. Fish that live in the aphotic region of the oceans have many adaptations for this environment. Discuss and describe their four most important adaptations for this way of life. (15 points)
2. compare and contrast the adaptations seen in slowly moving and rapidly moving fish. (15 points)
3. Compare jaw structure and feeding methods in primitive bony fishes such as gars and in advanced teleostean bony fishes. Why has this led to the greater success of the advanced teleosts? (15 points)
4. Discuss the adaptive significance of pelvic and pectoral fin positioning in advanced teleostean fishes (10 points)
5. Characterize, discuss the taxonomic relationships, and discuss adaptations and conservation status of the Chondrosteans. (5 points)
6. Characterize, discuss the taxonomic relationships, and discuss adaptations and conservation status of Polypterus and other Polypteriformes. (5 points)
7. Characterize, discuss the taxonomic relationships, and discuss adaptations of the Panderichthyida. (5 points)
8. Compare the caudal fins in chondrostean, holostean, and teleostean fishes (5 points).

Answer any 50 points of the following . I am expecting more information from the 15 point questions than from the 10 point than from the 5 point. Use illustrations as needed.

9. Discuss adaptations in the three major groups of amphibians that permit them to lay eggs out of the water. Give at least 5 different examples for anurans. (15 points)
10. Amphibian populations around the world have been declining over the past few decades. There has also been a reported increase in the number of malformations observed in frog populations. Describe and discuss at least four possible reasons why this might be happening. Be sure to include two possible global causes for the decline. (10 points)
11. Discuss the four most important adaptations required for the transition from water to land. In which group did each adaptation first appear. (10 points)
12. Discuss temperature dependent sex determination in sea turtles. Discuss how it works, and how it can affect conservation biologists. Discuss the other major factors of concern to conservation biologists concerning sea turtles. (10 points)
13. How does circulation in turtles differ from most other tetrapods? What are the advantages of this adaptation? (10 points).
14. Characterize the social behavior of the Plethodontidae (10 points).
15. Characterize, discuss the taxonomic relationships, and discuss adaptations of Acanthostega and Ichthyostega. (5 points)
16. What is Batesian mimicry.