Question

Explain why the energetic cost of swimming decreases as a fish grows.

Short answer

The energetic cost of swimming decreases as a fish grows due to reduced water resistance caused by a smaller surface area to volume ratio, increased energy efficiency of muscle contractions because of a higher proportion of slow-twitch muscle fibers, and increased buoyancy as the fish's swim bladder volume increases. These factors contribute to larger fish being able to swim more efficiently using less energy per unit of body mass than smaller fish.

Step-by-step solution

Understand water resistance and surface area

Water resistance is the opposing force that a fish encounters while swimming. It depends on factors such as the fish's shape, size, and the speed at which it is swimming. As the fish grows, its surface area increases, but the volume (and mass) increase more rapidly than its surface area. This leads to a smaller surface area to volume ratio, which means that the force of resistance acting on the fish's body decreases as the fish grows.

Energy efficiency of muscle contraction

Muscle contractions are essential for swimming, and the efficiency of these contractions impacts the energetic cost of swimming. Larger fish have more muscle mass and a larger proportion of slow-twitch muscle fibers, which are more energy efficient than fast-twitch muscles found in smaller fish. This means larger fish can swim using less energy per unit of body mass than smaller fish.

Buoyancy of the fish

Buoyancy plays a crucial role in the energy expenditure of fish while swimming. As fish grow in size, their swim bladders also increase in volume, making them more buoyant. This increased buoyancy reduces the amount of energy needed to maintain vertical position in the water column, which in turn decreases the energetic cost of swimming.

Conclusion

The energetic cost of swimming decreases as a fish grows due to factors like reduced water resistance, increased energy efficiency of muscle contractions, and increased buoyancy. This enables larger fish to swim more efficiently and expend less energy per unit of body mass compared to smaller fish, making growth advantageous in terms of energy conservation.

Key concepts

Water Resistance and Surface Area

The concept of water resistance, also known as drag, is vital in understanding the energy involved in a fish's locomotion. Fish swim by moving their bodies against the water, which inherently opposes their movement. This opposing force depends on both the viscosity of the water and the shape and size of the fish, as well as its velocity. Imagine pushing your hand through water - the faster you move it, the more resistance you feel.

As a fish grows, an interesting phenomenon occurs. Its surface area does indeed increase, leading one to assume that resistance would increase as well. However, the growth is disproportionate, meaning the fish's volume and mass increase at a faster rate than the surface area. This results in a reduced surface area to volume ratio.

For fish, a smaller surface to volume ratio equates to a reduction in the overall resistance encountered per unit of body mass. This means that as they get larger, they face less resistance in moving through water compared to their smaller counterparts, which leads to a decrease in the energetic cost of swimming. Larger fish can push against the water more effectively, reducing the energy needed to swim at the same speed.

Muscle Contraction Efficiency

Muscle contraction plays a critical role in how fish propel themselves through water. These contractions must be efficient to conserve energy, especially when these movements are constant, as in the case of swimming. Fish muscles are composed of two types of fibers: fast-twitch and slow-twitch. The fast-twitch fibers are designed for quick bursts of speed but are less energy-efficient. On the other hand, slow-twitch muscles are more suited for sustained swimming, as they are highly efficient in using energy.

Larger fish have developed a higher proportion of these energy-efficient slow-twitch muscle fibers. As a result, they use less energy to sustain muscle contractions during swimming compared to smaller fish, which may rely more on fast-twitch fibers and therefore expend energy more rapidly. This becomes crucial when considering the distances fish travel and the need for energy conservation in aquatic environments. This shift in muscle composition, favoring slow-twitch fibers in larger fish, plays a significant role in decreasing the energetic cost of swimming as fish grow.

Fish Buoyancy

Buoyancy refers to an object's ability to float in a fluid, which in the case of fish, is water. Fish have a specialized organ called a swim bladder, an air-filled sac that helps them maintain buoyancy in the water column. It serves as a buoyancy aid, allowing fish to conserve energy they would otherwise use to counteract the downward force of gravity.

As fish increase in size, so does their swim bladder. This larger swim bladder improves their buoyancy, significantly reducing the energetic cost required to maintain their position at the desired depth. Imagine a submarine adjusting its buoyancy to maintain a neutral state where it neither sinks nor rises without expending fuel. Similarly, a well-balanced swim bladder reduces the need for constant muscular effort to remain afloat or to adjust depth, directly translating to lower energy expenditure while swimming. This physiological adaptation is another reason larger fish can swim more efficiently, highlighting how the evolution of buoyancy mechanisms contributes to the optimization of energy use in fish.