UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
College of Arts and Sciences Education
Matina Campus, Davao City
INTRODUCTION
GROUP A – Personal Aquarium
Code number: 3217
Course/Subject: EBIO313/L -MARINE ECOLOGY
SY. 2020-2021
Submitted to
PROF. EDGAR B. RETORTA
Submitted by
KRYSTALE JOY R. LANZADERAS
DECEMBER 10, 2021
I.
INTRODUCTION
The word "fish" refers to a wide range of vertebrates from various evolutionary lines.
It also refers to a life form rather than a taxonomic group. Fish, as members of the phylum
Chordata, share some common characteristics with other vertebrates. Gill slits, a notochord, or
skeletal supporting rod, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, and a tail are all present at some point in
the life cycle. Living fishes are classified into five groups, each as distinct as the four groups
of familiar air-breathing animals (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals). Any of the
approximately 34,000 species of vertebrate animals (phylum Chordata) located in fresh and
salt water around the world. The living species range from the primitive jawless lampreys and
hagfishes to the cartilaginous sharks, skates, and rays to the abundant and diverse bony fishes.
Many fish species are cold-blooded; nevertheless, one species, the opah (Lampris guttatus), is
warm-blooded (Weitzman, 2021).
In botany, the term "aquarium" was once used to describe a container which is utilized
to grow aquatic plants. Although the first recognizable glass aquarium was formulated in 1832
by French-born naturalist Jeanne Villepreux-Power, it was in the works of British naturalist
Philip Gosse that the concept first took on its modern meaning as a vessel wherein aquatic
animals as well as plants can be retained. An aquarium necessarily requires the maintenance of
aquatic species, either freshwater or marine, or a facility where a collection of aquatic
organisms is presented or researched. Studying an aquarium is very important in the fields of
Marine Biology and Ecology since it contributes to the researchers accumulated knowledge
regarding marine life and greatly improves conservation efforts (Rafferty, 2014).
According to ACS Distance Education (2011), an aquarium can range from a small
round tank with a single fish inside to a large tank with a variety of fish, species, and ornaments
to support and create an ecosystem that is both visually appealing and easy to maintain. Those
with a wide variety of species are often referred to as "community tanks," and observing
different interactions among the different species kept can be a very educational experience.
However, assessing species compatibility is an essential factor to be considered if the
individual wants to keep a balance between the species and the environment inside an aquarium
tank.
When it comes to fish behaviour, it is a complex and diverse subject. The nature of an
individual fish's response to stimuli from its environment, as in almost all animals with a central
nervous system, is determined by the inherited traits of its nervous system, what it has learned
from previous experience, and the nature of the stimuli (Fishxperts, 2019).
Studying fish behaviour in the aquarium is both an interesting and very helpful activity
for the fish keeper. Research into having good pets' natural behaviors will lead to much greater
success in keeping and breeding them, as well as open one's eyes to the amazing diversity of
fish lifestyles and behavioral adaptations. The main motivation for animal behavior is survival:
breeding, finding an appropriate environment, acquiring food, and avoiding predators.
Furthermore, even the best-designed aquarium is a poor mimic of nature, so captive fishes
should occasionally adapt their behaviors, even if the actual purpose or function of what they
are doing can be expected to suffer as a result. With experience, fish keepers will be able to see
the connection between the captive's behaviour and its natural counterpart (Indiviglio, 2019).
Therefore, fish should be of interest to humans for a variety of reasons, the most vital
of which is their relationship with and reliance on the environment. Another more reasonable
explanation for the interest in fish is their contribution to the world's food supply, which is
modest but significant. This asset, once thought to be limitless, is also now recognized as finite
and in delicate balance with the aquatic environment's biological, chemical, and physical
factors. Many fish species are useful as experimental or laboratory animals in a variety of
medical and biological studies. For instance, the ability of many fishes to adapt to captivity has
enabled biologists to study behaviour, physiology, and even ecology under comparatively
ecological conditions. Fishes have been particularly significant in the analysis of animal
behavior, with research on fishes providing a broad foundation for understanding the more
adaptable behavior of higher vertebrates. This scientific study will emphasize between the two
different species; (1) Angelfishes (Pterophyllum scalare) and (2) Goldfishes (Carassius
auratus) and its behaviour and movement inside the aquarium. Furthermore, the purpose of
this scientific experiment is to monitor their survival (breeding, finding an appropriate
environment, acquiring food, and avoiding predators) and how it affects their welfare in the
aquarium as well as investigate their changes and development brought by their own situated
environment.
II.
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this scientific experiment, the researcher will be able to:
1.
Identify between the two different species inside the aquarium; and
2.
Observe their behaviour and movements.
REFERENCES
Aquarium of the Pacific (2020). Aquarium Conservation and Research. Retrieved on December
09, 2021 from https://www.aquariumofpacific.org/conservation/research/
ACS Distance Education (2011). Aquarium Management. Retrieved on December 10, 2021
from https://www.acs.edu.au/courses/aquarium-management-636.aspx
Fishxperts (2019).
Fish Behaviour. Retrieved
https://www.fishxperts.com/fish-behavior/
on
December
10,
2021
from
Indiviglio, F. (2019). Aquarium: Fish Behaviour. Retrieved on December 09, 2021 from
https://www.thatpetplace.com/articles/fish-behaviorarticle?fbclid=IwAR26faJ82LMa3tAauVqhiSIPbw9_ia4YNJ0XJ4T8nMPgDeEMBFi
SZvBTHaM
Rafferty, J. (2011). Aquarium. Retrieved on
https://www.britannica.com/science/aquarium
December
08,
2021
from
Weitzman, S. (2021).
Fish Animal. Retrieved on December 08, 2021 from
https://www.britannica.com/animal/fish