Question

Goldfish are one of the most common aquatic pets. The average temperature to maintain healthy goldfish is between 72-75 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it is not unusual to find goldfish keeping office workers company in frigid cubicles as low as 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Mary noticed her goldfish opened and closed its operculum (protective covering for the gills) more often when the temperature in her office was warm. Worried, she may be harming her pet by keeping her office so cold, Mary set up an investigation to test the impact cold temperatures had on her goldfish’s respiration rate. Which of the following experiments would be best to investigate if goldfish maintain homeostasis during varying temperatures?Group of answer choicesSlowly decrease the water temperature of a fish tank by adding ice chips. Record the respiration rate (opening and closing the operculum) per minute for each 2-degree drop in temperature.Prepare two fish tanks, one with water below 68 degrees Fahrenheit and one with water above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Put five fish in each tank and record qualitative data on how the respiration rate of the fish changes over time.Put a male and a female fish in a fish tank with warm water. Record how many times their operculum (protective covering for the gills) open and close in a minute.Cover half of the fish tank with a box so it is in shadow. Record the side of the tank the fish is on and the temperature of the water every minute.

Answer 1

The best option would be the first one.

Slowly decrease the water temperature of a fish tank by adding ice chips. Record the respiration rate (opening and closing the operculum) per minute for each 2-degree drop in temperature.

It is the best experimental setup if Mary wanted to test the response of her goldfish at varying temperatures.