Arachnids

Almost all adult arachnids have eight legs, and arachnids may be easily distinguished from insects by this fact, since insects have six legs. However, arachnids also have two further pairs of appendages that have become adapted for feeding, defense, and sensory perception.

picture taken from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arachnid

Group 2-Cnidaria(Animalia)

The Cnidaria as a group of animals are well known to many people under their common names, Sea Anemones, Corals and Jellyfish are all Cnidarians. They are linked together by their carnivorous feeding habits their simple anatomical design and the possession of nematocysts, though one species of Ctenophora possesses nematocysts as well.

Characteristics of Cnidaria(Animalia)
1) Radially Symmetrical.
2)Body multicellular, few tissues, some organelles.
3)Body contains an internal cavity and a mouth.
4)Two different forms exist, medusa and polyp
5)Reproduction is asexual or sexual.
6)Has a simple net like nervous system.
7)Has a distinct larval stage which is planktonic.
8)Lives in aquatic environments, mostly marine.
9)Mostly carnivorous otherwise filter feeders.
10)May have a minimal skeleton of chiton or calcium carbonate.

Source: http://www.earthlife.net/inverts/cnidaria.html

Mollusks (Group 3)

The mollusk or molluscs is a large phylum(taxonomic rank below Kingdom and above Class) of invertebrate animals.

The two most universal features of the body structure of molluscs are a mantle with a significant cavity used for breathing and excretion, and the organization of the nervous system.

The gastropods (snails and slugs) include by far the most classified species, accounting for 80% of the total. Cephalopod molluscs such as squid, cuttlefish and octopus are among the most neurologically advanced invertebrates. Either the giant squid or the colossal squid is the largest known species of animal without a backbone.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mollusca

Grp 4 Anthropodo-crustacea

Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods. They include animals such as crabs, lobsters and shrimps.They are distinguished from other groups of arthropods, such as insects, myriapods and chelicerates by the possession of two-parted limbs. The body of a crustacean is made up of 3 parts - the head, the thorax, and the abdomen.The majority of crustaceans are aquatic, living in either marine or fresh water environments, but a few groups have adapted to life on land, such as terrestrial crabs

Group 2-Gymnosperms

Characteristics of Gymnosperms(Conifers):

1) Gymnosperms do not have and outer-covering or shell around their seeds.
2)Gymnosperms do not produce flowers barring a few exceptions.
3)Gymnosperms are heterosporous which means that they produce different male and female spores. The microspores develop into pollen grains and the megaspores are in an ovule.
4)Gymnosperms produce cones.
5)Gymnosperms do not bear fruits.
6)Gymnosperms propagate via wind pollination.

Conifers are the largest division of gymnosperms. These conifers are found in the high latitudes of the northern hemisphere. There are several families of the Coniferphyta division as well. These are cone-bearing gymnosperms.

Sources: http://www.skajem.no/images/thuja.JPG, http://www.buzzle.com/articles/gymnosperms.html

Roundworms

Roundworms/nematodes , is a worm that lives in freshwater or polar water and seawater, with it occupying 90% of all life seafloor.there are about 28000 different definable types of roundworm alone, 16000 being parasitic.it has a digestive tract that starts and ends from both sides. they reproduce through sexual reproduction ,maturing with length and age.

they can spread viruses like Ascariasis, which causes coughing , shortness abdominal pain and nausea , through infiltrating the anus and living in the intestines.

Biodiversity Lesson 1

Here are 2 unique Australian species. What are they?

     Task 1 (30 minutes)

Work in groups to conduct online research to the following questions:
a) What is the modern classification system used by biologists?

b) How are organisms classified? What is the basis of classification? (refer to the 2 unique Australian species)

c) How did the modern classification system come about? Who were the biologists who contributed to this area of study?

d) What other key characteristics are there to describe the modern classification system?

Presentation

Task 2 (25 minutes)

Review the key characteristics of the organisms in the 5 kingdoms.

Group 1 – Monera, Protista, Fungi
Group 2 – Plantae

Group 3, 4 & 5 – Animalia (Invertebrates & Vertebrates)

Post your group research in the science blog.

Task 3 (Homework, Individual)

Read the post uploaded by the other groups.

Select 3 groups of organisms and provide 3 facts that were not mentioned in the group’s research. Post your findings in the comments section.

Task 4 (Homework, Reflection, Individual)

1.                  What is biodiversity?

2.                 In one or two sentences, explain why biodiversity is important to us.

3.                 What is the key understanding of this lesson?