Dissection Project
Basic Overview
In this project, we paired up with another STEM student to work together to learn about Invertebrates. My partner was Ronan Shaffer and we learned about the evolution of invertebrates by dissecting them.
In this project, we paired up with another STEM student to work together to learn about Invertebrates. My partner was Ronan Shaffer and we learned about the evolution of invertebrates by dissecting them.
Dissection
Sponge
Sponges are good habitats because for other organisms because they help filter waste out of the water. Sponges and crustaceans share a beneficiary relationship. Sponges help disguise the mollusks and also can emit a toxin to ward off predators. In turn, the crustaceans take the sponges into clean water where it is easier to survive.
Sponges are good habitats because for other organisms because they help filter waste out of the water. Sponges and crustaceans share a beneficiary relationship. Sponges help disguise the mollusks and also can emit a toxin to ward off predators. In turn, the crustaceans take the sponges into clean water where it is easier to survive.
Jellyfish
Porifera animals have no vital organs. Cnidaria have evolved to include most vital organs except do circulatory or respiratory systems. Instead, they use diffusion for respiration, circulation, and excretion. Cnidaria reproduction is achieved by external fertilization and sexual and asexual reproduction. They feed by paralyzing their prey and eating them in their gastrovascular cavity extracellularly. They have also evolved to a bilateral symmetry body plan.
Porifera animals have no vital organs. Cnidaria have evolved to include most vital organs except do circulatory or respiratory systems. Instead, they use diffusion for respiration, circulation, and excretion. Cnidaria reproduction is achieved by external fertilization and sexual and asexual reproduction. They feed by paralyzing their prey and eating them in their gastrovascular cavity extracellularly. They have also evolved to a bilateral symmetry body plan.
Worm
In earthworms, there are organs present. They have seven types of systems; they have the respiratory, muscular, circulatory, excretory, digestive, nervous, and reproductive system. The earthworm is segmented, and all of its organs lay in a fluid-filled cavity called the coelom. Compared to cnidaria and porifera, the annelida phylum has advanced by becoming cephalized (when important/specialized organs become concentrated in one area of an organism).
In earthworms, there are organs present. They have seven types of systems; they have the respiratory, muscular, circulatory, excretory, digestive, nervous, and reproductive system. The earthworm is segmented, and all of its organs lay in a fluid-filled cavity called the coelom. Compared to cnidaria and porifera, the annelida phylum has advanced by becoming cephalized (when important/specialized organs become concentrated in one area of an organism).
Squid
Mollusks have a body wall protecting a body cavity. The vital organs are located inside of the body cavity. This means that they are coelomate. Mollusks are also bilaterally symmetrical. They also possess a one-way gut - meaning food is taken in through one exit and waste exits a separate exit. Also, mollusks are non-segmented.
Mollusks have a body wall protecting a body cavity. The vital organs are located inside of the body cavity. This means that they are coelomate. Mollusks are also bilaterally symmetrical. They also possess a one-way gut - meaning food is taken in through one exit and waste exits a separate exit. Also, mollusks are non-segmented.
Arthropods have open circulatory systems, which means that blood is confined into vessels in only part of the entire system. Their body is segmented and consists of a head, thorax, and a body. What stands out about the grasshopper’s anatomy is that they have jointed appendages on both legs. This helps for walking and jumping. Arthropods have also evolved to have an exoskeleton. The segmentation seen in previous invertebrates has fused together in arthropods to form three distinct segments; the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. Arthropods are also highly encephalized - intricate mouthparts, compound eyes, and delicate sensory feelers all being in the head portion of an arthropod.
Comparative Anatomy
Invertebrates
Types of Invertebrates
Porifera
The phylum porifera includes all of the ocean's sponges. This is the oldest example of an invertebrate, as their fossils have been discovered in the Pre-Cambrian period (640+ million years ago). Sponges are unique because they do not have mouths; instead they use pores to consume plankton and other micro-organisms. Today, the are approximately 5,000 different tyrpes of sponges in the world.
Cnidaria
Worldwide, there are approximately 9,000 different types of animals in the phylum porifera. Cnidaria includes jellyfish, anemones, and hydroids. All members of the cnidaria phylum have tentacles with stinging tips to capture prey. Cnidarians first appeared 560 million years ago, in the Vendian Period.
Annelida
All worms are part of the phylum annelida. Worms are the first animals to be bilaterally symmetrical, meaning that their bodies, if cut down the middle, would leave you with two identical parts. Worms first appeared 490 million years ago, in the Ordovician Period.
Mollusca
There are at least 50,000 members of the mollusca phylum. Snails, squids, octopuses, clams, and scallops are all part of the mollusca phylum. A characteristic of all mollusks is that they all have a soft body and a hard exoskeleton. Mollusks first appeared in the Devonian period, about 420 million years ago.
Arthropoda
Any living animal with a hard exoskeleton and jointed appendages is considered part of the phylum arthropoda. This includes crabs, spiders, scorpions, millipedes, and shrimp. Worldwide, arthropods make up around 80% of the animal kingdom. Arthropods first appeared on the fossil record in the Vendian Period, about 540 million years ago.
Porifera
The phylum porifera includes all of the ocean's sponges. This is the oldest example of an invertebrate, as their fossils have been discovered in the Pre-Cambrian period (640+ million years ago). Sponges are unique because they do not have mouths; instead they use pores to consume plankton and other micro-organisms. Today, the are approximately 5,000 different tyrpes of sponges in the world.
Cnidaria
Worldwide, there are approximately 9,000 different types of animals in the phylum porifera. Cnidaria includes jellyfish, anemones, and hydroids. All members of the cnidaria phylum have tentacles with stinging tips to capture prey. Cnidarians first appeared 560 million years ago, in the Vendian Period.
Annelida
All worms are part of the phylum annelida. Worms are the first animals to be bilaterally symmetrical, meaning that their bodies, if cut down the middle, would leave you with two identical parts. Worms first appeared 490 million years ago, in the Ordovician Period.
Mollusca
There are at least 50,000 members of the mollusca phylum. Snails, squids, octopuses, clams, and scallops are all part of the mollusca phylum. A characteristic of all mollusks is that they all have a soft body and a hard exoskeleton. Mollusks first appeared in the Devonian period, about 420 million years ago.
Arthropoda
Any living animal with a hard exoskeleton and jointed appendages is considered part of the phylum arthropoda. This includes crabs, spiders, scorpions, millipedes, and shrimp. Worldwide, arthropods make up around 80% of the animal kingdom. Arthropods first appeared on the fossil record in the Vendian Period, about 540 million years ago.
Reflection
I really liked how this project was hands-on. The problem is, I don't really like dissection. Luckily, I was partnered up with Ronan, who is a bit better with dissection than I am. Together we made a good team, with me observing and Ronan dissecting. One thing that I liked was how we saw and experienced how invertebrates had evolved. It was neat to see the organisms becoming progressively more and more complex. I was a little surprised at how long invertebrates have been able to survive; its amazing to me that they make up such a huge portion of our animal kingdom. I guess that they have adapted perfectly to fit the ever-changing way of life.