Ecology of Freshwater Fish

About The Book

Fish that spend most or all of their life in fresh water, such as rivers and lakes, with a salinity of less than 0.05% are considered freshwater fish. The most noticeable way that these ecosystems diverge from marine settings is in the salt levels. The fish require a variety of physiological modifications in order to survive in fresh water. Freshwater habitats are home to 41.24% of all fish species. An aquatic or marine animal with vertebrae is referred to as a fish. Except for sharks and rays, which have cartilage, all fish have vertebrae. Despite being stronger than bone, cartilage is more flexible than bone. In the adult stage, they typically have gills and fin-like limbs. The group of animals known as fish also includes jawless vertebrates like lampreys and hagfish, as well as sharks, rays, chimaeras, lungfish, and bony fishes. The majority of fishes are bony. Bony fish have well-developed jaws that are made of genuine bone rather than cartilage. The shape, size, and appearance of fish vary greatly. The habitat that it lives in will determine everything. At various points throughout the food chain, fish that are a component of the ecosystem contribute to the energy flow. This book provides an introduction to fish ecology by discussing the interactions between fish and the watery habitats they live in. Chapter-by-chapter sequential reading covers the major concepts of ecology, including fishes' use of their primary habitats, interactions with other species, migration, feeding, population dynamics, and reproduction.