Textbook Question
Which process in the nephron is least selective?
a. Filtration
b. Reabsorption
c. Active transport
d. Secretion
Ch. 44 - Osmoregulation and Excretion
Urry11th EditionCampbell BiologyISBN: 9789357423311
Not the one you use?Change textbookSelect a different textbook
Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry8
- Ch. 2 - The Chemical Context of Life8
- Ch. 3 - Water and Life6
- Ch. 4 - Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life9
- Ch. 5 - The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules9
- Ch. 6 - A Tour of the Cell6
- Ch. 7 - Membrane Structure and Function6
- Ch. 8 - An Introduction to Metabolism6
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation10
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis7
- Ch. 11 - Cell Communication7
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle10
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles10
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene Idea14
- Ch, 15 - The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance7
- Ch. 16 - The Molecular Basis of Inheritance9
- Ch. 17 - Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein9
- Ch. 18 - Regulation of Gene Expression10
- Ch. 19 - Viruses6
- Ch. 20 - DNA Tools and Biotechnology8
- Ch. 21 - Genomes and Their Evolution8
- Ch. 22 - Descent with Modification: A Darwininan View of Life6
- Ch. 23 - The Evolution of Populations5
- Ch. 24 - The Origin of Species6
- Ch. 25 - The History of Life on Earth6
- Ch. 26 - Phylogeny and the Tree of Life7
- Ch. 27 - Bacteria and Archaea8
- Ch. 28 - Protists7
- Ch. 29 - Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land7
- Ch. 30 - Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants7
- Ch. 31 - Fungi5
- Ch. 32 - An Overview of Animal Diversity4
- Ch. 33 - An introduction to Invertebrates6
- Ch. 34 - The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates7
- Ch. 35 - Vascular Plant Structure, Growth, and Development8
- Ch. 36 - Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants8
- Ch. 37 - Soil and Plant Nutrition10
- Ch. 38 - Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology8
- Ch. 39 - Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals8
- Ch. 40 - Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function8
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition7
- Ch. 42 - Circulation and Gas Exchange7
- Ch. 43 - The Immune System6
- Ch. 44 - Osmoregulation and Excretion6
- Ch. 45 - Hormones and the Endocrine System8
- Ch. 46 - Animal Reproduction8
- Ch. 47 - Animal Development8
- Ch. 48 - Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling6
- Ch. 49 - Nervous Systems8
- Ch. 50 - Sensory and Motor Mechanisms5
- Ch. 51 Animal Behavior6
- Ch. 52 - An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere7
- Ch. 53 - Population Ecology10
- Ch. 54 - Community Ecology9
- Ch. 55 - Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology8
- Ch. 56 - Conservation Biology and Global Change6
Chapter 44, Problem 5
In which of the following species should natural selection favor the highest proportion of juxtamedullary nephrons?
a. A river otter
b. A mouse species living in a temperate broadleaf forest
c. A mouse species living in a desert
d. A beaver
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the function of juxtamedullary nephrons: These nephrons are specialized for water reabsorption and are crucial for producing concentrated urine, which is important for conserving water.
Consider the habitat of each species: Juxtamedullary nephrons are more beneficial in environments where water is scarce, as they help in conserving water by concentrating urine.
Analyze the options: a river otter and a beaver live in aquatic environments where water is abundant, so they are less likely to need a high proportion of juxtamedullary nephrons.
Evaluate the mouse species: The mouse species living in a temperate broadleaf forest has moderate water availability, while the mouse species living in a desert faces extreme water scarcity.
Conclude which species would benefit most: Natural selection would favor the highest proportion of juxtamedullary nephrons in the mouse species living in a desert, as it needs to conserve water in its arid environment.
Verified video answer for a similar problem:
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
56sWas this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Juxtamedullary Nephrons
Juxtamedullary nephrons are specialized structures in the kidneys that play a crucial role in concentrating urine. They have long loops of Henle that extend deep into the medulla, allowing for efficient reabsorption of water and solutes. This adaptation is particularly beneficial for species living in environments where water conservation is essential.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:59
Kidney and Nephron
Natural Selection
Natural selection is a fundamental mechanism of evolution, where individuals with traits better suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully. Over time, these advantageous traits become more common in the population. In the context of kidney function, natural selection would favor adaptations that enhance survival in specific habitats, such as efficient water conservation in arid environments.
Recommended video:
04:43Natural Selection
Desert Adaptations
Desert adaptations are physiological and behavioral traits that enable organisms to survive in arid environments with limited water availability. These adaptations may include efficient water retention, reduced water loss, and specialized kidney functions like those provided by juxtamedullary nephrons. Species living in deserts often evolve such traits to maintain hydration and survive extreme conditions.
Recommended video:
Guided course
03:54Desert and Savanna
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Which of the following animals generally has the lowest volume of urine production?
a. Vampire bat
b. Salmon in fresh water
c. Marine bony fish
d. Freshwater flatworm
Textbook Question
The high osmolarity of the renal medulla is maintained by all of the following except
a. Active transport of salt from the upper region of the ascending limb.
b. The spatial arrangement of juxtamedullary nephrons.
c. Diffusion of urea from the collecting duct.
d. Diffusion of salt from the descending limb of the loop of Henle.
Textbook Question
African lungfish, which are often found in small stagnant pools of fresh water, produce urea as a nitrogenous waste. What is the advantage of this adaptation?
a. Urea takes less energy to synthesize than ammonia.
b. Small stagnant pools do not provide enough water to dilute ammonia, which is toxic.
c. Urea forms an insoluble precipitate.
d. Urea makes lungfish tissue hypoosmotic to the pool.