A freshwater fish is placed in salt water. Which of the following events would most likely occur?

Question

Fish Don't Fit Inside a Crucial Species Classification System

a
salt would be pulled out of the fish's cells, causing dehydration
b
water would be pulled out of the fish's cells, causing dehydration
c
swelling of the fish's cells would rapidly occur until they burst
d
no change would occur to the fish and its cells due to rapid adaptation

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

b water would be pulled out of the fish's cells, causing dehydration.

Freshwater fish are adapted to live in a low-salinity environment, and their bodies contain more water and fewer salts compared to the surrounding saltwater. When placed in saltwater, water will move out of the fish's cells through osmosis to balance the concentration of salts inside and outside the cells, leading to dehydration of the fish.