sponges Lab
Structure/Classes: The sponge is a basic grouping of cells. It has no central nervous system. To obtain oxygen, it uses diffusion at the cellular level. It obtains food by tiny particles drifting thorough it.The three classes consist of the Calcerea, Hexiactinella, and Demospongiae. Each of these therefore have there own distinctions that separate them. The Calcerea have spicules that are made from a specific material, Calcite, hence the name. The Hexiactinella have spicules like stars with six points, hence “hexa” in the name, meaning six. The Demospongiae have a different kind of skeleton, made of spongin, hence sponge in their name.
Ecology: Many sponges provide habitats for other organisms such as snails, sea stars, and shrimp. Sponges can also form relationships with bacteria, algae, and plant-like protists which provides food and oxygen to the animal. In turn, the sponge provides a protected area where the other organisms can live. In addition, because sponges are often attached to the sea floor, they only receive low levels of sunlight. However these animals have developed spicules that focus and direct incoming light to cells below. This provides sunlight for other symbiotic organisms to carry out photosynthesis and also allows the sponge to survive in a wide range of habitats.
Ecology: Many sponges provide habitats for other organisms such as snails, sea stars, and shrimp. Sponges can also form relationships with bacteria, algae, and plant-like protists which provides food and oxygen to the animal. In turn, the sponge provides a protected area where the other organisms can live. In addition, because sponges are often attached to the sea floor, they only receive low levels of sunlight. However these animals have developed spicules that focus and direct incoming light to cells below. This provides sunlight for other symbiotic organisms to carry out photosynthesis and also allows the sponge to survive in a wide range of habitats.
Jellyfish lab
Aboral side of a jellyfish:
Oral side of a jellyfish:
Diagram of jellyfish exterior:
Classes/Structures: The jellyfish lab was our first real dissection lab. It went pretty well for me and my dissection partner Simon. The jellyfish's has two different body phases the medusa or polyp. Our jellyfish was in the medusa stage. In the phylum Cnidaria there are four main classes. These classes are Anthozoa (corals), Hydrozoa (calcified skeletons), Scyphozoa (jellyfish), and Octocorallia (more calcified skeletons, but are weaker in structure. The Anthozoa class is considered the most important because the polyps it produces are ready fossils that can be study later. Hydrozoans are one of the most diverse groups of Cnidarians. The more important species construct their skeletons out of calcite to disguise themselves as corals. The class Scyphozoa start as a grounded polyp though evolve into a free swimming medusa-like organism.
Ecology: In the past corals have been threatened by naturally occurring disasters. These disasters were not devastating enough to wipe out a family of coral. However, today it is a different story. Now the human population has accelerated and increased the risk of extinction for these corals. Examples of this include, recreational divers accidentally damaging reefs, mining and logging washing silt and other kinds of sediments onto the corals. Chemical fertilizers and insecticides are also quite dangerous. They cover the coral in a blanket of chemicals that suffocates them. Even if a coral is attacked by one of these harmful elements, it may survive, but it leaves the coral defenseless to other natural predators.
Squid lab
Classes/Structure: The phyla Mollusca is a lot more complicated than the ones we have studied so far. Organisms in this phylum have three germ layers, an increase of 50% from Cnidarians and Poriferans. Mollusks also have bilateral symmetry, just like homo sapiens. The class cephalopod in this phylum contains organisms which have evolved primitive brains in their heads. Squids have also evolved kidneys to filter out toxins during excretion. Squids have a body cavity which more primitive organisms don't have. Squids can also breath through gills while previous organisms only breathed through respiration. Squids even have a closed circulatory system which is more advanced than jellyfish as well.
Ecology: Members of the phylum Mollusca, known as mollusks, are soft-bodied animals that usually have an internal or external shells. Mollusks include snails, slugs, clams, squids, and octopi. These organisms are separated into three classes: Gastropoda, Bivalvia, and Cephalopoda. Gastropoda is a class including pond snails, land slugs, sea butterflies, sea hares, limpets, and nudibranchs. All of these organisms are shell-less or single-shelled mollusks that move using a muscular foot on the ventral side. Members of the class Bivalvia have two shells that are held together by one or two powerful muscles. These organisms include clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops. The last class in this phylum is Cephalopoda - members of this class include octopi, squids, cuttlefishes, and nautiluses. Cephalopods are soft-bodied mollusks with a head attached to a single foot. This foot is often divided into tentacles or arms. This class is especially notable because its organisms have a concentration of nerves in the head.
Ecology: Members of the phylum Mollusca, known as mollusks, are soft-bodied animals that usually have an internal or external shells. Mollusks include snails, slugs, clams, squids, and octopi. These organisms are separated into three classes: Gastropoda, Bivalvia, and Cephalopoda. Gastropoda is a class including pond snails, land slugs, sea butterflies, sea hares, limpets, and nudibranchs. All of these organisms are shell-less or single-shelled mollusks that move using a muscular foot on the ventral side. Members of the class Bivalvia have two shells that are held together by one or two powerful muscles. These organisms include clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops. The last class in this phylum is Cephalopoda - members of this class include octopi, squids, cuttlefishes, and nautiluses. Cephalopods are soft-bodied mollusks with a head attached to a single foot. This foot is often divided into tentacles or arms. This class is especially notable because its organisms have a concentration of nerves in the head.
Earthworm lab
Structure/Classes:The earth worm has only several organs that do a minimum range of tasks, unlike the jellyfish. Once cut open, it was very easy to identify the heart, seminal vessel, septum, and intestine. Earthworms have bilateral symmetry. Like squids, earthworms have the presence of organs. In the squid, they have a number of organs that is much harder to count, and their main body's structure are more complex. Also, the overall body plan of the sponge is more specific and complex, and it completes a larger number of tasks that the earth worm. However, the simple body plan of annelids helps to enable extraordinary efficiency in food transfer, where the other phyla is noticeably slower.
Ecology: Earthworms are important in nature. They were noted as far back as Greece. Aristotle called them the intestines of earth. He was so fascinated with them he wrote a book on them. Many Annelids spend their lives burrowing through soil aerating it and mixing it. The tunnels the worms make allow trails for water and plants to go through. They pull plant matter through the soil and they grind it partially digest and mix it. Earth worms feces are rich in potassium phosphorus beneficial bacteria and micronutrient. Earthworm are beneficial to many creatures' diets, and the ecosystem would be harmed without them.
Ecology: Earthworms are important in nature. They were noted as far back as Greece. Aristotle called them the intestines of earth. He was so fascinated with them he wrote a book on them. Many Annelids spend their lives burrowing through soil aerating it and mixing it. The tunnels the worms make allow trails for water and plants to go through. They pull plant matter through the soil and they grind it partially digest and mix it. Earth worms feces are rich in potassium phosphorus beneficial bacteria and micronutrient. Earthworm are beneficial to many creatures' diets, and the ecosystem would be harmed without them.
Grasshopper lab
Structure/Classes: The grasshopper was the most advanced creature studied thus far. It has great cephalization, with an advanced brain and eyes, as well as segmentation. The Phylum Arthropoda is the most diverse phylum in the world. It ranges through the classes of Crustaceans, Chelicerata, and Uniramia. The Crustaceans include animals like crabs and lobsters. The Cheliceratas include spiders and their cousins the horseshoe crabs, surprising not in the same class as standard crabs. This class also includes the mites and ticks, and the scorpions. The final grouping are the Uniramians, which include the insects, centipedes, and millipedes. This is by far the most diverse class of all.
Ecology: Many insects are known for their negative effects on humans or the environment. Some types of arthropods can cost billions of dollars of damage in just a year. Other insects such as mosquitoes or ticks can transmit deadly diseases to both people and other organisms in their environment. Despite these negative points, these small creatures help to pollinate crops, flowers, trees, and other plants that are vital to humans. Agriculture could not survive without them. In addition, insects serve as an important food source for a variety of birds, amphibians, and other animals.
Ecology: Many insects are known for their negative effects on humans or the environment. Some types of arthropods can cost billions of dollars of damage in just a year. Other insects such as mosquitoes or ticks can transmit deadly diseases to both people and other organisms in their environment. Despite these negative points, these small creatures help to pollinate crops, flowers, trees, and other plants that are vital to humans. Agriculture could not survive without them. In addition, insects serve as an important food source for a variety of birds, amphibians, and other animals.
Perch Lab
Structure/Classes: This fish is the first dissection we have done on an animal with bones. That is,after all, its big advancement and why it is a vertebrate in the first place. this fish also has developed gills, fins, and teeth.There are five main classes. These are classes Osteichthyes, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, and Mammalia. The Osteichthyes class consists of bony fish and even some types of shark. The Amphibia class is made up of salamanders, frogs, and Newts. The Reptilia class is made up of snakes, crocodiles, lizards, etc. The Aves class consists of many types of birds. Lastly, the chordate subclass is made up of us humans, and almost every warm-blooded four-legged walking creature.
Ecology: Most amphibians, such as frogs, need to live near water or in a moist place such as a rainforest. Some amphibians can also live in places such as the desert, but they must have special adaptations to survive. Because frogs make an easy meal for a variety predators, many have adapted to display skin markings that ward off potential enemies; in addition, some amphibians can ooze a unpleasant-tasting toxin from a gland. However, recent studies have shown that frog populations are decreasing. These animals are very susceptible to decreasing habitats, depletion of the ozone layer, acid rain, water pollution, fungal infections, introduced aquatic predators, and increasing human populations.
Ecology: Most amphibians, such as frogs, need to live near water or in a moist place such as a rainforest. Some amphibians can also live in places such as the desert, but they must have special adaptations to survive. Because frogs make an easy meal for a variety predators, many have adapted to display skin markings that ward off potential enemies; in addition, some amphibians can ooze a unpleasant-tasting toxin from a gland. However, recent studies have shown that frog populations are decreasing. These animals are very susceptible to decreasing habitats, depletion of the ozone layer, acid rain, water pollution, fungal infections, introduced aquatic predators, and increasing human populations.
Chordata lab
Structure/Classes: The frog was our last animal to dissect, and was worthy of this. The frog was our most complex land animal to dissect by far. It had very specialized legs and skin. Classes: There are five main classes. These are classes Osteichthyes, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, and Mammalia. The Osteichthyes class consists of bony fish and even some types of shark. The Amphibia class is made up of salamanders, frogs, and Newts. The Reptilia class is made up of snakes, crocodiles, lizards, etc. The Aves class consists of many types of birds. Lastly, the chordate subclass is made up of us humans, and almost every warm-blooded four-legged walking creature.
Ecology: Most amphibians, such as frogs, need to live near water or in a moist place such as a rainforest. Some amphibians can also live in places such as the desert, but they must have special adaptations to survive. Because frogs make an easy meal for a variety predators, many have adapted to display skin markings that ward off potential enemies; in addition, some amphibians can ooze a unpleasant-tasting toxin from a gland. However, recent studies have shown that frog populations are decreasing. These animals are very susceptible to decreasing habitats, depletion of the ozone layer, acid rain, water pollution, fungal infections, introduced aquatic predators, and increasing human populations.
Ecology: Most amphibians, such as frogs, need to live near water or in a moist place such as a rainforest. Some amphibians can also live in places such as the desert, but they must have special adaptations to survive. Because frogs make an easy meal for a variety predators, many have adapted to display skin markings that ward off potential enemies; in addition, some amphibians can ooze a unpleasant-tasting toxin from a gland. However, recent studies have shown that frog populations are decreasing. These animals are very susceptible to decreasing habitats, depletion of the ozone layer, acid rain, water pollution, fungal infections, introduced aquatic predators, and increasing human populations.