COMPARATIVE ANATOMY INVERTEBRATE PROJECT:
ECOLOGY OF ANIMALS:
Porifera:
Sponges interact with many of the organisms around it. For example, pecten sponge is found on scallop shells. The pecten sponge has a mutually beneficial relationship with the scallops. The sponge covers the shell and offers protection from the sea while the sponges gains substratum. The boring sponge burrows into the shells of various molluscs. Like a tree sponges grow in branches stretching towards the most amount of sunlight. This is vital for the photosynthesis process.
Cnidaria:
The Cnidaria differ from the Porifera. Cnidaria have radial symmetry while Porifera are asymmetrical. Cnidaria also have extracellular digestion while Porifera have intracellular digestion. While Porifera just filter feed the ocean water, Cnidaria find their prey and paralyze it then bring it in and consume it. Both the Porifera and Cnidaria use diffusion for respiration, circulation, and excretion. The Porifera has no nervous system but the Cnidaria however has a nerve net. Again, both the Cnidaria and Porifera are asexual and sexual but the Porifera uses internal fertilization while the Cnidaria uses external fertilization.
Annelida:
Annelids have much cell and tissue specialization. Their bodies are segmented, have bilateral symmetry, and contain a body cavity in which the internal organs reside. They have a digestion system, and they filter feed. Annelids have closed circulatory systems with blood vessels and excrete waste through nephridia. They have a central nervous system, with concentrated nerves at one end (also called cephalization). They are hermaphrodites, and reproduce externally.
Mollusca:
While Annelids differ from Cnidaria, Mollusca differ from Annelida. Mollusks have bilateral symmetry as well as a true coelom. They have extracellular digestion and a one-way digestive tract. They respire through diffusion with gills. They have closed circulatory systems with heart-like organs, and excrete wastes through a siphon.
Arthropoda:
Arthropods have bilateral symmetry and a true coelom as well. They have extracellular digestion with a one-way system and an anus to excrete waste, and respire with trachea and spiracles. They have an open circulatory system with a simple heart and at least one artery. They have a brain and ganglia. They can reproduce sexually and asexually, through internal fertilization.
Sponges interact with many of the organisms around it. For example, pecten sponge is found on scallop shells. The pecten sponge has a mutually beneficial relationship with the scallops. The sponge covers the shell and offers protection from the sea while the sponges gains substratum. The boring sponge burrows into the shells of various molluscs. Like a tree sponges grow in branches stretching towards the most amount of sunlight. This is vital for the photosynthesis process.
Cnidaria:
The Cnidaria differ from the Porifera. Cnidaria have radial symmetry while Porifera are asymmetrical. Cnidaria also have extracellular digestion while Porifera have intracellular digestion. While Porifera just filter feed the ocean water, Cnidaria find their prey and paralyze it then bring it in and consume it. Both the Porifera and Cnidaria use diffusion for respiration, circulation, and excretion. The Porifera has no nervous system but the Cnidaria however has a nerve net. Again, both the Cnidaria and Porifera are asexual and sexual but the Porifera uses internal fertilization while the Cnidaria uses external fertilization.
Annelida:
Annelids have much cell and tissue specialization. Their bodies are segmented, have bilateral symmetry, and contain a body cavity in which the internal organs reside. They have a digestion system, and they filter feed. Annelids have closed circulatory systems with blood vessels and excrete waste through nephridia. They have a central nervous system, with concentrated nerves at one end (also called cephalization). They are hermaphrodites, and reproduce externally.
Mollusca:
While Annelids differ from Cnidaria, Mollusca differ from Annelida. Mollusks have bilateral symmetry as well as a true coelom. They have extracellular digestion and a one-way digestive tract. They respire through diffusion with gills. They have closed circulatory systems with heart-like organs, and excrete wastes through a siphon.
Arthropoda:
Arthropods have bilateral symmetry and a true coelom as well. They have extracellular digestion with a one-way system and an anus to excrete waste, and respire with trachea and spiracles. They have an open circulatory system with a simple heart and at least one artery. They have a brain and ganglia. They can reproduce sexually and asexually, through internal fertilization.
REFLECTION:
I found how the organisms changed physically very interesting. Not only did the organs and organ systems become more intricate but the external body developed quite a bit more as well.
I also found the dissection themselves very interesting. It really allowed for a more interactive view of learning about the organisms. Instead of being told where the heart was we cut the animal open and looked for it ourselves. |
I would like to know more about body systems. I am curious about how and why they developed how they did and where they did. I also wonder about why the location of different organs or organ systems changed with time and for what reason.
I would also like to learn more about the different animals had different forms of reproduction. Why each animal has that type of reproduction and why it may not benefit from other forms of reproduction. |