Week: 1

Fish Physiology
Adopted from:
Dr. Eric B. May, Fish Physiology
Some General Processes
Feeding and Digestion
Growth and Metabolism

Dr. Ir. Happy Nursyam

Fisheries and Marine Science Faculty
Brawijaya Universiya, Indonesia
2009

Introduction

Active Transport Mechanisms

A Cosymport or
symport movement of
ions or molecules via
ionic gate or
macromolecule
B Antiport
movement of ions or
molecules via ionic
gate or
macromolecule

Trans-Membrane Transport of
Macromolecules
1 Attachement of molecule
to receptor or surface
2 Involution of surface
3 Engulfment of molecule
4 Pinching off and import of
macromolecule into the cell

Feeding and Digestion

My Best
Subject

Feeding

Energy Budgets
Intake ( I = Income)
Macronutrients
Carbohydrates
Fats/Oils
Proteins
Micronutrients
Vitamins
Essential
Fatty Acids
Amino Acids
Sugars

Energy Use (E = Expenditure)

Respiration
Osmoregulation
Movement
Feeding
Digestion

IF
I=E
I<E
I>E

Reproduction

Growth = 0
Growth =
Growth = +

Diversity
Again a Question of Adaptation
Often Consumer and Consumed CoEvolve
Menhaden and Algae
Striped Bass and Menhaden

Driver of Speciation Exploitation of New

Energy Resources

Capture and Ingestion

Jaw and Mouth Action
Biting
Blue fish Bite, Shear
Eel Bite, Rotate, Tear

Modification Nipping, Parrot Fish

Swallowing
Striped Bass Engulf, Digest, Expell

Ram Feeding
Menhaden
Whale Shark

Suction Feeding
Stone Rollers
Chubs

Body Shape
Rover (Predators Usually)
Sharks
Bluefish
Tunas

Streamlined Torpedo Shape Body Caudal Fin (BCF)

Lie in Wait (Ambush Predators)

Gar
Pikes
Barracudas
Monkfish
Anglerfish

Rear Oriented Fins Instant Propulsion - BCF

Pelvics and Pectorals Push Off, Tail for Propulsion

Body Shape (Continued)

Surface Oriented Fish
Killifish
Flying Fish

Surface Filter Feeders

Menhaden

Bottom Fish
Flat Fish

Deep Bodied Fish

Butterfly Fish
Angel Fish

Eel Like Fish

Moray Eel
American Eel

Grouping by Diet
Herbivores
Phytoplankton
Macrophytes

Carnivores
Zooplankton
Selective (High Cost but Food Specific)
Non-Selective (Low Cost but Non Specific)

Benthic (Live in Water Column, but Feed Off Bottom)

Fish Feeders (Ichthyvores or Piscivores)

Detritivores

Grouping by Diet (Continued)

Herbivores
Detritivores
Carnivores

Usually a function of co-adaptation of mouth and

digestive tract, ie
1. Menhaden Gizzard, elongated large
intestine
2. Striped Bass Muscular stomach, short
intestines
3. Butterfly Fish Coiled small and large
intestines