Chapter 21, Problem 12STP

To determine

The reason that carp, catfish and other fish with low oxygen needs, live in warmer waters than trout, which need more oxygen to survive.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Temperature dependence on the solubitlity of gas:

The solubility of a gas decrease on rising the temperature of the solution. A solution having lower temperature possess more amount of gas in comparison to a solution with a higher temperature.

Following graph showing the temperature dependence on the solubility of various gas:

  

Hence, less oxygen is soluble in warmer water and more oxygen is soluble in cold water. That’s why carp, catfish and other fish with low oxygen needs, live in warmer waters than trout, which need more oxygen to survive.

Conclusion:

Thus,carp, catfish and other fish with low oxygen needs, live in warmer waters than trout, which need more oxygen to survive because less oxygen soluble in warmer water and more oxygen soluble in cold water.