ALAG, Alithea Digna M.
PAREJA, Sheena Grace L.
TAN, Jullienee Kristie A.
RECONES, Vincent G.
Introduction:
Fish obtain their oxygen from water by ventilating
their gills. These breathing apparatus are highly
vascularized out pocketing of the body surface. The
operculum, a protective flap, covers and protects the
gills, which are soft and delicate. The gills are ventilated
by pumping water across them in one direction. Both the
mouth and operculum work together to pump the water
through the mouth, into the gills, and then out to the
sides of the body.
As the water saturated with oxygen
moves over the gills, gas from the water
diffuses via the gills to the blood. At the same
time carbon dioxide moves from the gills out
into the water. The frequency of these
“breathing” movements over a specific period
of time provides a measure of the ventilation
rate.
Genotypic and environmental variables both
affect ventilation rate. The effect of temperature on
physiological processes has been well studied. Fish
are exothermic; their body temperature is the same
as water temperature and changes directly with it.
Many physiological processes, such as metabolic
rate, heart rate, and enzyme activities occur faster as
body temperature increases and slow down at colder
body temperature.
Objective:
To determine the possible effects of water temperature to
the operculum movement of the fishes.
Hypothesis:
Ho : There is no significant effect of
change in water temperature to
operculum movement of fishes.
Ha : There is a significant effect of
change in water temperature to
operculum movement of fishes.
the
the
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Variables:
 Independent variable: Temperature of water
 Dependent variable: No. of Operculum movement of fish
 Controlled variable: Volume of Water
Materials:
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Liter Set (2)
Mercury Thermometer (2)
Water
Ice
Timer
Fishes (2)
Procedure:
1. Gather all the materials needed for the experiment.
2. The fishes were placed in different liter set filled with
8000 mL of water.
3. Then the temperature of the water was measured
using a thermometer. The operculum movement of
the fishes was recorded for one minute. The
procedure was repeated two more times for it to
have an accurate result.
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Small amount of ice was then added to the liter set.
Then we measured the temperature of the water in the beaker.
The operculum movement of the fishes was recorded for one
minute. The procedure was repeated two more times for it to
have an accurate result.
Larger amount of ice was added to the liter set.
We measured the temperature of the water in the beaker.
Again we recorded the operculum movement of the fishes for
one minute. It was repeated twice to have an accurate result.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
*No. Of operculum movement of fish per minute
After the students recorded the operculum
movement of the fish in different water temperature, it
was observed that when the temperature of the water
is low, the operculum movement of the fishes is also
low.
In the water which measured 30˚C, it was
observed that the operculum movement of the fish
was higher. It is because warm water contains less
amount of oxygen, thus the fish breathes in a faster
rate.
While in the water that measured 23˚C, it
was observed that the operculum movement
was lesser compared to the warmer water
The operculum movement of the fish in
the water that measured 14˚C was slower
than that of the other 2 setups.
It was also observed that fishes can’t stay
long in very cold water.
Cold water has more dissolved oxygen
than that in warm water. Thus the fish
breathes faster in warm water in order to get
oxygen. Based on the result of the
experiment, the students can conclude that
the operculum movement is higher in warm
water and is lower in cold water.
REFERENCES:
• R. Edmondson, United States 2006
• http://science.csustan.edu/flora/zool4232/LabsS2010/temp%20on%20acclimated%20goldfish.htm