Plasmodium
Scientific name: Plasmodium falciparum
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Aconoidasida
Family: Haemosporida
This a sporozoan. I studied this organism for my presentation. The picture depicts the organism in one of its forms in a cell in the gut of the bacteria. This organism has a complex life cycle that has two hosts: the mosquito and the human. It's diploid stages occur in the mosquito and as the mosquito takes a blood meal Plasmodium is passed into the human bloodstream through the saliva of the insect. In the human, it ultimately invades and kill red blood cells causing the symptoms of malaria, a deadly disease.
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Aconoidasida
Family: Haemosporida
This a sporozoan. I studied this organism for my presentation. The picture depicts the organism in one of its forms in a cell in the gut of the bacteria. This organism has a complex life cycle that has two hosts: the mosquito and the human. It's diploid stages occur in the mosquito and as the mosquito takes a blood meal Plasmodium is passed into the human bloodstream through the saliva of the insect. In the human, it ultimately invades and kill red blood cells causing the symptoms of malaria, a deadly disease.
Toxoplasma
Scientific name: Toxoplasma gondii
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Conoidasida
Order: Eucoccidiorida
Date of Encounter: 4/25/2013
This is an intriguing parasite that has multiple hosts including humans. It is also causes some of the intermediate hosts elicit strange behaviors. It is an obligate intracellular parasite. In humans the symptoms are often mild but pregnant mothers can pass the parasite to their child in the womb.
Habitat: This is a parasite which have intermediate stages in rodents, birds, sheep, pigs. Humans and cats are the definitive hosts. It occurs worldwide but it has a greater incidence with people who have pets especially cats.
Feeding: They are intracellular parasites that feed and grow within host cells then multiply and burst the cell.
Special Adaptation: They can encyst in the intermediate host and last for a long time in that state of suspended animation. This cyst form is hardy and can survive fairly harsh conditions to survive.
Relationship with Humans: They cause toxoplasmosis in humans, a disease with symptoms listed below:
References: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001661/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002336/
A classmate's presentation
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Conoidasida
Order: Eucoccidiorida
Date of Encounter: 4/25/2013
This is an intriguing parasite that has multiple hosts including humans. It is also causes some of the intermediate hosts elicit strange behaviors. It is an obligate intracellular parasite. In humans the symptoms are often mild but pregnant mothers can pass the parasite to their child in the womb.
Habitat: This is a parasite which have intermediate stages in rodents, birds, sheep, pigs. Humans and cats are the definitive hosts. It occurs worldwide but it has a greater incidence with people who have pets especially cats.
Feeding: They are intracellular parasites that feed and grow within host cells then multiply and burst the cell.
Special Adaptation: They can encyst in the intermediate host and last for a long time in that state of suspended animation. This cyst form is hardy and can survive fairly harsh conditions to survive.
Relationship with Humans: They cause toxoplasmosis in humans, a disease with symptoms listed below:
- Enlarged lymph nodes in neck and head
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Mild mononucleosis-like illness
- Fever
- Muscle pain
References: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001661/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002336/
A classmate's presentation
Trypanosoma
Scientific name: Trypanosoma brucei
Phylum: Sarcomastigophora
Class: Zoomastigophorea
Order: Kinetplastida
Date of Encounter: 5/9/2013
This is unicellular parasitic flagellate. It is known as a hemoflagellate since it spends its adult stages in the blood of its hosts.
Habitat: This organism survives in typically two hosts in its life cycle - humans and the tsetse fly. The distribution of this organism is mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa in grassland regions.
Feeding: Trypanosoma feed by phagocytosis and absorption of nutrients from body fluids.
Special Adaptation: Their life cycle involves two hosts. The tsetse fly distributes them to different hosts. This sustains their numbers.
Relationship with Humans: This pathogen causes African Sleeping Sickness as it invades cerebrospinal fluids and the brain.
References: A fellow classmates presentation. These were her sources:
•Barnes, Robert, and Ruppert. Invertebrate Zoology. 6th ed. N.p.: Saunders College Publication, n.d. 164. Print.
•http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/sleepingsickness/treatment.html
•http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/images/ParasiteImages/S-Z/TrypanosomiasisAfrican/AfrTryp_LifeCycle.gif
•http://eol.org/data_objects/13144653
•Pechenik, Jan A. Biology of the Invertebrates. 4th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, Higher Education, 2005. 59-60. Print.
Phylum: Sarcomastigophora
Class: Zoomastigophorea
Order: Kinetplastida
Date of Encounter: 5/9/2013
This is unicellular parasitic flagellate. It is known as a hemoflagellate since it spends its adult stages in the blood of its hosts.
Habitat: This organism survives in typically two hosts in its life cycle - humans and the tsetse fly. The distribution of this organism is mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa in grassland regions.
Feeding: Trypanosoma feed by phagocytosis and absorption of nutrients from body fluids.
Special Adaptation: Their life cycle involves two hosts. The tsetse fly distributes them to different hosts. This sustains their numbers.
Relationship with Humans: This pathogen causes African Sleeping Sickness as it invades cerebrospinal fluids and the brain.
References: A fellow classmates presentation. These were her sources:
•Barnes, Robert, and Ruppert. Invertebrate Zoology. 6th ed. N.p.: Saunders College Publication, n.d. 164. Print.
•http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/sleepingsickness/treatment.html
•http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/images/ParasiteImages/S-Z/TrypanosomiasisAfrican/AfrTryp_LifeCycle.gif
•http://eol.org/data_objects/13144653
•Pechenik, Jan A. Biology of the Invertebrates. 4th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, Higher Education, 2005. 59-60. Print.
Trichomonas
Scientific name: Trichomonas vaginalis
Phylum: Metamonada
Class: Parabasalia
Order: Trichomonada
Date of Encounter: 5/11/2013
This is a very widespread parasite of the human urogenital tract. It belongs to a group of organisms that are parasites of vertebrates.
Habitat: It is found in the urogenital tract of humans. It is more common in women than in men.
Feeding: It induces stress on target cells of the urogenital tract. When the cells die, it ingests the cell fragments by phagocytosis. It can also obtain nutrients by absorption through the cell membrane.
Special Adaptation: It has 5 flagella to facilitate movement and an axostyle that provides internal support.
Relationship to Humans: It causes trichomoniasis a very common STD that affects people worldwide. About 70% of infections by Trichomonas is without symptoms. Although people who do not have symptoms can still spread the disease to others. Pregnant women with trichomonas could give birth to babies with low birth weight.
Reference: Culled from a fellow classmate's presentation:
}Hook, Edward W. (1999). "Trichomonas vaginalis—No Longer a Minor STD". Sexually Transmitted Diseases 26 (7): 388–9. }http://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/stdfact-trichomoniasis.ht
}http://www.emedicinehealth.com/trichomoniasis/article_em.htm
Phylum: Metamonada
Class: Parabasalia
Order: Trichomonada
Date of Encounter: 5/11/2013
This is a very widespread parasite of the human urogenital tract. It belongs to a group of organisms that are parasites of vertebrates.
Habitat: It is found in the urogenital tract of humans. It is more common in women than in men.
Feeding: It induces stress on target cells of the urogenital tract. When the cells die, it ingests the cell fragments by phagocytosis. It can also obtain nutrients by absorption through the cell membrane.
Special Adaptation: It has 5 flagella to facilitate movement and an axostyle that provides internal support.
Relationship to Humans: It causes trichomoniasis a very common STD that affects people worldwide. About 70% of infections by Trichomonas is without symptoms. Although people who do not have symptoms can still spread the disease to others. Pregnant women with trichomonas could give birth to babies with low birth weight.
Reference: Culled from a fellow classmate's presentation:
}Hook, Edward W. (1999). "Trichomonas vaginalis—No Longer a Minor STD". Sexually Transmitted Diseases 26 (7): 388–9. }http://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/stdfact-trichomoniasis.ht
}http://www.emedicinehealth.com/trichomoniasis/article_em.htm
Entamoeba
Scientific name: Entamoeba histolytica
Phylum: Amoebazoa
Class: Archamoebae
Order: Amoebida
Date of Encounter: 5/11/2013
This organism is 20-30 micrometers in length. It is a common parasite of the gut.
Habitat: It is found in the small intestine of humans worldwide. The cyst form can be found in contaminated water and poorly cooked food.
Feeding: It can often be found as a commensal organism that absorbs nutrients from the gut and consumes bacteria and cells that line the intestine. If it manages to penetrate through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream, It can invade the liver and feed on liver cells. This forms abscesses on the liver and in some cases it can be fatal.
Special Adaptation: Amoeboid in morphology, this organism can drastically change its shape and form in phagocytosis and to squeeze into tight places. This can enable it to eat a variety of food material and infect other organs of the body.
Relationship with Humans: It causes amoeboid dysentery and amebiases. There are more than 50 million cases of Entamoeba histolytica infections and 70,000 of these can be fatal
Reference(s): A fellow classmate's presentation: These are her sources below:
•http://entamoeba.lshtm.ac.uk/basics.htm
•http://www.microscope-microscope.org/applications/pond-critters/protozoans/sarcodina/entamoeba.htm
•http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/foodborneillness/foodborneillnessfoodbornepathogensnaturaltoxins/badbugbook/ucm070739.htm
Phylum: Amoebazoa
Class: Archamoebae
Order: Amoebida
Date of Encounter: 5/11/2013
This organism is 20-30 micrometers in length. It is a common parasite of the gut.
Habitat: It is found in the small intestine of humans worldwide. The cyst form can be found in contaminated water and poorly cooked food.
Feeding: It can often be found as a commensal organism that absorbs nutrients from the gut and consumes bacteria and cells that line the intestine. If it manages to penetrate through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream, It can invade the liver and feed on liver cells. This forms abscesses on the liver and in some cases it can be fatal.
Special Adaptation: Amoeboid in morphology, this organism can drastically change its shape and form in phagocytosis and to squeeze into tight places. This can enable it to eat a variety of food material and infect other organs of the body.
Relationship with Humans: It causes amoeboid dysentery and amebiases. There are more than 50 million cases of Entamoeba histolytica infections and 70,000 of these can be fatal
Reference(s): A fellow classmate's presentation: These are her sources below:
•http://entamoeba.lshtm.ac.uk/basics.htm
•http://www.microscope-microscope.org/applications/pond-critters/protozoans/sarcodina/entamoeba.htm
•http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/foodborneillness/foodborneillnessfoodbornepathogensnaturaltoxins/badbugbook/ucm070739.htm
Pfiesteria
Scientific name: Pfiesteria spp
Phylum: Dinoflagellata
Class: Dinophyceae
Order: Phytodiniales
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
This is a dinoflagellate with a complex life cycle that includes 20 stages. Some of these stages can be quite toxic.
Habitat: It has a worldwide distribution but toxic blooms have been reported mostly along the Eastern Coast of the United States especially in estuaries of North Carolina.
Feeding: They feed on the flesh of various kinds of finned fish. Also, with live finned fish are scarce they can ingest phytoplankton and assimilate chloroplasts. They can survive off the photosynthetic products of the chloroplast.
Special Adaptation: They can chemically detect the presence of numerous finned fish and can multiply rapidly to exploit the available food source. Their toxin production increases in the presence of large numbers of fish and it decreases in the absence of fish or when the fish have died. They have a complex life cycle that can change to suit their feeding pattern.
Relationship with Humans: Researchers and other people that have been exposed to Pfiesteria have shown a drop in their cognitive abilities similar to Alzheimer's disease.
Moreover, the toxic blooms have killed fishes and affected the fishing industry.
Reference(s):
http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Pfiesteria
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Pfiesteria
Phylum: Dinoflagellata
Class: Dinophyceae
Order: Phytodiniales
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
This is a dinoflagellate with a complex life cycle that includes 20 stages. Some of these stages can be quite toxic.
Habitat: It has a worldwide distribution but toxic blooms have been reported mostly along the Eastern Coast of the United States especially in estuaries of North Carolina.
Feeding: They feed on the flesh of various kinds of finned fish. Also, with live finned fish are scarce they can ingest phytoplankton and assimilate chloroplasts. They can survive off the photosynthetic products of the chloroplast.
Special Adaptation: They can chemically detect the presence of numerous finned fish and can multiply rapidly to exploit the available food source. Their toxin production increases in the presence of large numbers of fish and it decreases in the absence of fish or when the fish have died. They have a complex life cycle that can change to suit their feeding pattern.
Relationship with Humans: Researchers and other people that have been exposed to Pfiesteria have shown a drop in their cognitive abilities similar to Alzheimer's disease.
Moreover, the toxic blooms have killed fishes and affected the fishing industry.
Reference(s):
http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Pfiesteria
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Pfiesteria
Leishmania
Scientific name: Leishmania spp
Phylum: Euglenozoa
Class: Kinetoplastida
Order: Trypanosomatida
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
This is a protozoan parasitic common in regions where the female sandfly, its vector, is found.
Habitat: Cases of leishmaniasis is common in Asia, Southern Europe and Latin America.
Feeding: They attack and invade white blood cells. When they reach the liver or the spleen they feast on the cells in the organs. This weakens the immune system.
Special Adaptation: They invade and take over immune cells responding to the sand fly bite. This way other immune cells of the body cannot detect them in the blood stream as they are transported to the liver and the spleen.
Relationship with Humans: They cause the disease, Leismaniasis which can detrimental weaken the immune system leading to death. Leishmania is also capable of eating other kinds of tissue causing lesions in different parts of the body. It is a very deadly disease.
Reference(s):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDxqV4onRfc
animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/monsters-inside-me/videos
Phylum: Euglenozoa
Class: Kinetoplastida
Order: Trypanosomatida
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
This is a protozoan parasitic common in regions where the female sandfly, its vector, is found.
Habitat: Cases of leishmaniasis is common in Asia, Southern Europe and Latin America.
Feeding: They attack and invade white blood cells. When they reach the liver or the spleen they feast on the cells in the organs. This weakens the immune system.
Special Adaptation: They invade and take over immune cells responding to the sand fly bite. This way other immune cells of the body cannot detect them in the blood stream as they are transported to the liver and the spleen.
Relationship with Humans: They cause the disease, Leismaniasis which can detrimental weaken the immune system leading to death. Leishmania is also capable of eating other kinds of tissue causing lesions in different parts of the body. It is a very deadly disease.
Reference(s):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDxqV4onRfc
animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/monsters-inside-me/videos
Zooxanthellae
Scientific name: Symbiodinium spp
Phylum: Dinomastigota
Class: Dinophyceae
Order: Suessiales
Date of Encounter: 5/12/2013
This is a common endosymbiont of corals.
Habitat: This organism is found in symbiosis with corals in tropical and subtropical regions of seas and oceans. They are in shallow regions where light can penetrate.
Feeding: It is a mixotroph; it can be autotrophic or heterotrophic but it mainly obtains its nutrients from photosynthesis.
Special Adaptation: It's doubly flagellated while in its free-living state but it loses its flagella when acquired by a host. It can enter into symbiosis with a variety of organisms including mollusks, sponges, sea anemones, jellyfish, worms, etc.
Relationship with Humans: Changes in climate, mostly to global warming, is said to affect its ability to enter into symbiosis. This can lead to loss of coral reefs when zooxanthellae leave coral to search for more favorable conditions.
Reference(s): Culled from a classmate's presentation
“A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Zooxanthellae.” Microbe Wiki. Web. 17 Feb. 2013. Retreived from: http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Zooxanthellae
Minx, Patrick. “Genome: Symbiodinium sp.” The Genome Institute at Washington University. Web. 17 Feb. 2013. Retrieved from: http://genome.wustl.edu/genomes/detail/symbiodinium-sp/
Phylum: Dinomastigota
Class: Dinophyceae
Order: Suessiales
Date of Encounter: 5/12/2013
This is a common endosymbiont of corals.
Habitat: This organism is found in symbiosis with corals in tropical and subtropical regions of seas and oceans. They are in shallow regions where light can penetrate.
Feeding: It is a mixotroph; it can be autotrophic or heterotrophic but it mainly obtains its nutrients from photosynthesis.
Special Adaptation: It's doubly flagellated while in its free-living state but it loses its flagella when acquired by a host. It can enter into symbiosis with a variety of organisms including mollusks, sponges, sea anemones, jellyfish, worms, etc.
Relationship with Humans: Changes in climate, mostly to global warming, is said to affect its ability to enter into symbiosis. This can lead to loss of coral reefs when zooxanthellae leave coral to search for more favorable conditions.
Reference(s): Culled from a classmate's presentation
“A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Zooxanthellae.” Microbe Wiki. Web. 17 Feb. 2013. Retreived from: http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Zooxanthellae
Minx, Patrick. “Genome: Symbiodinium sp.” The Genome Institute at Washington University. Web. 17 Feb. 2013. Retrieved from: http://genome.wustl.edu/genomes/detail/symbiodinium-sp/
HookWorm
Scientific name: Anclyostoma duodenale
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Secernentea
Order: Strongylida
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
Hookworms have a widespread infection status in humans worldwide. The males range in length from 8mm-11mm while the females have a range of 10-13mm. The males are shaped more like a hook while the female is straighter.
Habitat: Their eggs need a humid climate in order to develop into juveniles. This concentrates the location of hookworms mainly in the tropics and subtropics. They are particularly common in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Both areas of poor sanitation have frequent incidences of the disease.
Feeding: The adults feed on the blood from blood vessels in the small intestine. They use the sharp teeth in their buccal cavity to hook to and feed on the vessels. They are capable of producing proteolytic enzymes to penetrate tissue during their development. The eggs absorb nutrients from the feces.
Special Adaptation: They have a complex life cycle that involves paratenic hosts such as dogs and cats. Humans are the definitive hosts but before infecting humans they go through various stages. First, eggs in feces hatch into a larva form. If the larva form can come in contact with human skin it can penetrate and enter the circulatory system. Eventually it finds its way to the intestines where it matures.
Relationship with Humans: Infections are not always noticeable but hookworms have the potential to cause anemia, and heart problems if it is not checked. It also has negative effects on children and pregnant women.
Reference(s):
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ancylostoma_duodenale/
http://animal.discovery.com/worms/hookworm-info.htm
http://www.who.int/vaccine_research/diseases/soa_parasitic/en/index2.html
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Secernentea
Order: Strongylida
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
Hookworms have a widespread infection status in humans worldwide. The males range in length from 8mm-11mm while the females have a range of 10-13mm. The males are shaped more like a hook while the female is straighter.
Habitat: Their eggs need a humid climate in order to develop into juveniles. This concentrates the location of hookworms mainly in the tropics and subtropics. They are particularly common in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Both areas of poor sanitation have frequent incidences of the disease.
Feeding: The adults feed on the blood from blood vessels in the small intestine. They use the sharp teeth in their buccal cavity to hook to and feed on the vessels. They are capable of producing proteolytic enzymes to penetrate tissue during their development. The eggs absorb nutrients from the feces.
Special Adaptation: They have a complex life cycle that involves paratenic hosts such as dogs and cats. Humans are the definitive hosts but before infecting humans they go through various stages. First, eggs in feces hatch into a larva form. If the larva form can come in contact with human skin it can penetrate and enter the circulatory system. Eventually it finds its way to the intestines where it matures.
Relationship with Humans: Infections are not always noticeable but hookworms have the potential to cause anemia, and heart problems if it is not checked. It also has negative effects on children and pregnant women.
Reference(s):
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ancylostoma_duodenale/
http://animal.discovery.com/worms/hookworm-info.htm
http://www.who.int/vaccine_research/diseases/soa_parasitic/en/index2.html
Mud Dragon
Scientific name: Echinoderes horni
Phylum: Kinorhyncha
Order: Cyclorhagida
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
This organism is found in marine sediments and sandy worldwide. It is less than1mm in length and the body has two regions : the head and the trunk. The head is has spines projecting to the anterior and another set of spines projecting to the posterior. They molt until they reach adulthood at which time they stop molting.
Habitat: They are marine. They live in mud or sand from the intertidal zone to a depth of 5000m-8000m worldwide.
Feeding: They are deposit feeders in sediment and, also, they eat diatoms.
Special Adaptation: Their heads can be retracted into the trunk. When they want to dig into sediment, they essentially use their heads as drills.
Relationship with Humans: Not many studies have been conducted on these organisms
Reference(s):
http://eol.org/pages/1526/overview
http://www.marinelifephotography.com/marine/worms/kinorhynchs.htm
Phylum: Kinorhyncha
Order: Cyclorhagida
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
This organism is found in marine sediments and sandy worldwide. It is less than1mm in length and the body has two regions : the head and the trunk. The head is has spines projecting to the anterior and another set of spines projecting to the posterior. They molt until they reach adulthood at which time they stop molting.
Habitat: They are marine. They live in mud or sand from the intertidal zone to a depth of 5000m-8000m worldwide.
Feeding: They are deposit feeders in sediment and, also, they eat diatoms.
Special Adaptation: Their heads can be retracted into the trunk. When they want to dig into sediment, they essentially use their heads as drills.
Relationship with Humans: Not many studies have been conducted on these organisms
Reference(s):
http://eol.org/pages/1526/overview
http://www.marinelifephotography.com/marine/worms/kinorhynchs.htm
Gastrotrich (Hairy backs)
Scientific name: Chaetonotus spp
Phylum: Gastrotricha
Class: Chaetonotida
Order: Chaetonotidae
Date of Encounter: 5/9/2013
This animal is very small. Most are less than 1mm long. Despite their size their population can reach great numbers. At times they can make up the majority of the biomass of a pelagic marine habitat. They are ranked as one of the most abundant animal groups.
Habitat: They are found in marine, brackish and freshwater habitats. They have a cosmopolitan distribution.
Feeding: They feed on plankton or anything that can fit in their mouths. Their food consists of a wide range of organic matter dead or alive.
Special adaptation: They have adhesive tubes at their posterior ends which they use to attach temporarily to objects.
Relationship with Humans: They are being investigated to examine the origin of pseudocoelomates.
Reference: From a fellow classmates presentation. These were his sources:
¨Shapiro, Leo. “Gastrotricha”. Encyclopedia of Life. Web. 24 March 2013. Retrieved from: http://eol.org/pages/8728/overview.
¨Todaro, M.A. “Gastrotricha: Overview”. gastrotricha.unimore.it. Web. 24 March 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.gastrotricha.unimore.it/overview.htm.
Phylum: Gastrotricha
Class: Chaetonotida
Order: Chaetonotidae
Date of Encounter: 5/9/2013
This animal is very small. Most are less than 1mm long. Despite their size their population can reach great numbers. At times they can make up the majority of the biomass of a pelagic marine habitat. They are ranked as one of the most abundant animal groups.
Habitat: They are found in marine, brackish and freshwater habitats. They have a cosmopolitan distribution.
Feeding: They feed on plankton or anything that can fit in their mouths. Their food consists of a wide range of organic matter dead or alive.
Special adaptation: They have adhesive tubes at their posterior ends which they use to attach temporarily to objects.
Relationship with Humans: They are being investigated to examine the origin of pseudocoelomates.
Reference: From a fellow classmates presentation. These were his sources:
¨Shapiro, Leo. “Gastrotricha”. Encyclopedia of Life. Web. 24 March 2013. Retrieved from: http://eol.org/pages/8728/overview.
¨Todaro, M.A. “Gastrotricha: Overview”. gastrotricha.unimore.it. Web. 24 March 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.gastrotricha.unimore.it/overview.htm.
Sympion
Scientific name: Sympion pandora
Phylum: Cycliophora
Class: Eucycliophora
Order: Symbiida
Date of encounter: 4/25/2013
The picture shows a pair of organisms from the genus Sympion. They are perched on a mouth appendage of a lobster. This is its sessile form, adapted for feeding.
Habitat: This is a marine organism since its host a species of lobster lives in marine environments. They are attached to the mouth appendages of the lobster
Feeding: Their internal buccal region is ciliated which allows the organism to generate a current to suck in food material. Once it has finished feeding, the buccal cavity closes to trap the food.
Special Adaptation: These organisms undergo self-renewal. This is the process by which the organism replenishes older organs within it. It does this by growing a bud where it develops the new organs. Once the new organs are formed, they exchange with the old organs in the main body of the organism. An explanation proffered for this is that it helps the organism eliminate wastes before they reach toxic levels since the animal does not have an excretory system.
Relationship with Humans: Not much is known about their potential usefulness and influence to humans. This is because they are a very recently discovered species.
References: •http://eol.org/pages/1922/overview
•http://www.guwsmedical.info/reproductive-biology/wheel-wearers.html
A classmate's presentation
Phylum: Cycliophora
Class: Eucycliophora
Order: Symbiida
Date of encounter: 4/25/2013
The picture shows a pair of organisms from the genus Sympion. They are perched on a mouth appendage of a lobster. This is its sessile form, adapted for feeding.
Habitat: This is a marine organism since its host a species of lobster lives in marine environments. They are attached to the mouth appendages of the lobster
Feeding: Their internal buccal region is ciliated which allows the organism to generate a current to suck in food material. Once it has finished feeding, the buccal cavity closes to trap the food.
Special Adaptation: These organisms undergo self-renewal. This is the process by which the organism replenishes older organs within it. It does this by growing a bud where it develops the new organs. Once the new organs are formed, they exchange with the old organs in the main body of the organism. An explanation proffered for this is that it helps the organism eliminate wastes before they reach toxic levels since the animal does not have an excretory system.
Relationship with Humans: Not much is known about their potential usefulness and influence to humans. This is because they are a very recently discovered species.
References: •http://eol.org/pages/1922/overview
•http://www.guwsmedical.info/reproductive-biology/wheel-wearers.html
A classmate's presentation
Beard Worms
Scientific name: Riftia pachyptila
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Pogonophora
Order: Riftiida
Date of Encounter: 3/02/2013
I discovered this organism online. It belongs to a group of organisms which are found in marine habitats in depths ranging from 100ft to 10,000ft. The picture shows a few of these organisms located near a hydrothermal vent on the ocean floor, their typical habitat. These organisms lack a mouth, a gut or an anus and need sulfur-oxidizing endosymbiotic bacteria to survive. In there larvae stage, they had a digestive system but this is transient and is lost as the organism matures.
As tubeworms, these organisms construct tubes made of chitin and scleroproteins that are 3 to 4 times the length of their bodies. These are pioneer species that colonize new hydrothermal vents before being succeeded by other groups of organisms.
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Pogonophora
Order: Riftiida
Date of Encounter: 3/02/2013
I discovered this organism online. It belongs to a group of organisms which are found in marine habitats in depths ranging from 100ft to 10,000ft. The picture shows a few of these organisms located near a hydrothermal vent on the ocean floor, their typical habitat. These organisms lack a mouth, a gut or an anus and need sulfur-oxidizing endosymbiotic bacteria to survive. In there larvae stage, they had a digestive system but this is transient and is lost as the organism matures.
As tubeworms, these organisms construct tubes made of chitin and scleroproteins that are 3 to 4 times the length of their bodies. These are pioneer species that colonize new hydrothermal vents before being succeeded by other groups of organisms.
Bootlace Worm
Scientific name: Lineus longissimus
Phylum: Nemertea
Class: Anopla
Subclass: Heteronemertea
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
This is an unsegemented worm with colors ranging from brown to black. It usually has a purplish iridescence due to the epithelial cilia on its surface. It is know as one of the longest worms. It can reach lengths of 30m though the normal length range is 5m-15m. It is 5mm in diameter. Moreover, it may have up to twenty pairs of deep set eyes
Habitat: This is a marine animal found in littoral and sublittoral zones on muddy, sandy, stony or shelly substrata. It is common in the United Kingdom.
Feeding: This organism is a deposit feeder and a grazer.
Special Adaptation: When handled it produces pungent mucus to act as a repellant. It can also regenerate lost parts of its body. The fragments can develop into new organism.
Relationship with Humans: Research has been conducted on them to determine their phylogenetic relationships.
Reference(s):
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/502088/ribbon-worm
http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=3693
http://eol.org/pages/586802/details
Phylum: Nemertea
Class: Anopla
Subclass: Heteronemertea
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
This is an unsegemented worm with colors ranging from brown to black. It usually has a purplish iridescence due to the epithelial cilia on its surface. It is know as one of the longest worms. It can reach lengths of 30m though the normal length range is 5m-15m. It is 5mm in diameter. Moreover, it may have up to twenty pairs of deep set eyes
Habitat: This is a marine animal found in littoral and sublittoral zones on muddy, sandy, stony or shelly substrata. It is common in the United Kingdom.
Feeding: This organism is a deposit feeder and a grazer.
Special Adaptation: When handled it produces pungent mucus to act as a repellant. It can also regenerate lost parts of its body. The fragments can develop into new organism.
Relationship with Humans: Research has been conducted on them to determine their phylogenetic relationships.
Reference(s):
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/502088/ribbon-worm
http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=3693
http://eol.org/pages/586802/details
Spongia
Scientific name: Spongia officinalis
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Dictyoceratida
Date of Encounter: 4/29/2013
Spongia officinalis is also know as the bath sponge. Its size is frequently over 10cm in diameter and it has a globular structure. It is supple and compressible in consistency.
Habitat: It is a marine organism found in the Mediterranean sea just below the littoral zone. Furthermore it can also be found in caves.
Feeding: Filter feeder
Special Adaptations: It is very bendable and compressible. This may protect it from being swept away under strong currents.
Relationship with Humans: It is harvested by many Mediterranean countries and is said to make the best quality sponges.
Reference: Image - http://corspecies.medrecover.org/photos/Spongia_officinalis1_IllotForadatCabrera_EB.jpg
Info - http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=sponges&id=412
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Dictyoceratida
Date of Encounter: 4/29/2013
Spongia officinalis is also know as the bath sponge. Its size is frequently over 10cm in diameter and it has a globular structure. It is supple and compressible in consistency.
Habitat: It is a marine organism found in the Mediterranean sea just below the littoral zone. Furthermore it can also be found in caves.
Feeding: Filter feeder
Special Adaptations: It is very bendable and compressible. This may protect it from being swept away under strong currents.
Relationship with Humans: It is harvested by many Mediterranean countries and is said to make the best quality sponges.
Reference: Image - http://corspecies.medrecover.org/photos/Spongia_officinalis1_IllotForadatCabrera_EB.jpg
Info - http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=sponges&id=412
Leopard slug
Scientific name: Limax maximus
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Family: Limacidae
Date of encounter: 4/9/2013
The picture depicts a preserve Leopard slug. This has lost much of its pigmentation and normal form and shape due to the length of its preservation. The video of live slugs mating below in the special adaptation section will give a clearer picture of how they actually look like.
Habitat: This organism strives in mulch and underground found in tropical and temperate forests. It is also found in shaded regions of human civilization such as gardens and cellars. It has been found in the U.S.A., Europe and Australia.
Feeding: They are omnivores. They normally feed on decaying mulch, leaves and other vegetable matter. But they are also known to consume carrion, and other slugs. They are known to exhibit cannibalism.
Special Adaptation: They have a radula for feeding. Their mucus is used as a homing substance and also to attract mates. As hermaphrodites they can self fertilize. Their mating process is very unique among animals: http://youtu.be/FhVi4Z6CjZk
Relationship to humans: They are also known as great pests of gardens but studies have shown that they actually prey on more garden-destroying slug species and can help eradicate them.
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Family: Limacidae
Date of encounter: 4/9/2013
The picture depicts a preserve Leopard slug. This has lost much of its pigmentation and normal form and shape due to the length of its preservation. The video of live slugs mating below in the special adaptation section will give a clearer picture of how they actually look like.
Habitat: This organism strives in mulch and underground found in tropical and temperate forests. It is also found in shaded regions of human civilization such as gardens and cellars. It has been found in the U.S.A., Europe and Australia.
Feeding: They are omnivores. They normally feed on decaying mulch, leaves and other vegetable matter. But they are also known to consume carrion, and other slugs. They are known to exhibit cannibalism.
Special Adaptation: They have a radula for feeding. Their mucus is used as a homing substance and also to attract mates. As hermaphrodites they can self fertilize. Their mating process is very unique among animals: http://youtu.be/FhVi4Z6CjZk
Relationship to humans: They are also known as great pests of gardens but studies have shown that they actually prey on more garden-destroying slug species and can help eradicate them.
Fat Innkeeper Worm
Scientific name: Ureshis unicinctus
Phylum: Echiura
Class: Echiuroidea
Order: Echiurida
Date of Encounter: 4/30/2013
The picture on the left shows a fat innkeeper worm in one of the bends on its U-shaped burrow. Adults measure up to 20cm long. The body is not segmented so it was recently reclassified and given its own phylum, Echiura. It has been called many names due to its morphology.
Habitat: This is a marine species common in coastal wetlands in the North West Pacific. It digs into soft sandy mud and creates a U-shaped burrow which serves as shelter and a feeding tool. It derives its name from the organisms that live or sojourn in its burrow. These organisms include pea crabs, scale worms and gobies. A type of clam even inserts its siphon into the burrow of the innkeeper worm and feeds on trapped plankton.
Feeding: The innkeeper worm uses a mucus net and its U-shaped burrow to feed. Both ends of the burrow are open to the water but one is like a chimney. The worm uses the chimney end to begin its mucus net, then it inches backward into the burrow, developing and lengthening the net as it goes. Once it has reached an appropriate distance it stops building on the net and begins pumping water. It does this by executing peristaltic contractions with its whole body. The water comes in the chimney opening and exits through the lower opening behind the worm. When it becomes too difficult to pump water due to the mucus net being clogged with food material and other sediment, the worm begins to eat the mucus net and any nutritious morsels trapped in it.
Special Adaptation: It uses mucus nets to feed and trap organisms.
Relationship with Humans: Research is being carried out to determine its classification. Also it is a delicacy eaten raw, salted or stir-fried in Korean and some parts of Japan.
Reference: http://www.elkhornslough.org/sloughlife/inverts/fatinnkeeperworm.htm
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=266877
Phylum: Echiura
Class: Echiuroidea
Order: Echiurida
Date of Encounter: 4/30/2013
The picture on the left shows a fat innkeeper worm in one of the bends on its U-shaped burrow. Adults measure up to 20cm long. The body is not segmented so it was recently reclassified and given its own phylum, Echiura. It has been called many names due to its morphology.
Habitat: This is a marine species common in coastal wetlands in the North West Pacific. It digs into soft sandy mud and creates a U-shaped burrow which serves as shelter and a feeding tool. It derives its name from the organisms that live or sojourn in its burrow. These organisms include pea crabs, scale worms and gobies. A type of clam even inserts its siphon into the burrow of the innkeeper worm and feeds on trapped plankton.
Feeding: The innkeeper worm uses a mucus net and its U-shaped burrow to feed. Both ends of the burrow are open to the water but one is like a chimney. The worm uses the chimney end to begin its mucus net, then it inches backward into the burrow, developing and lengthening the net as it goes. Once it has reached an appropriate distance it stops building on the net and begins pumping water. It does this by executing peristaltic contractions with its whole body. The water comes in the chimney opening and exits through the lower opening behind the worm. When it becomes too difficult to pump water due to the mucus net being clogged with food material and other sediment, the worm begins to eat the mucus net and any nutritious morsels trapped in it.
Special Adaptation: It uses mucus nets to feed and trap organisms.
Relationship with Humans: Research is being carried out to determine its classification. Also it is a delicacy eaten raw, salted or stir-fried in Korean and some parts of Japan.
Reference: http://www.elkhornslough.org/sloughlife/inverts/fatinnkeeperworm.htm
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=266877
Medicinal Leech
Scientific name: Hirudo medicinalis
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Clitellata
Order: Arhynchobdellida
Date of encounter: 4/30/2013
The medicinal leech has 33 to 34 segments. It is dorsoventrally flattened with the dorsal end being darker than the ventral end. They range in color from brown to green. They have two suckers. One is located at the end of the anterior tip and the other is at the end of the posterior part of the worm. Mature adults can grow up to 20cm. Their anterior sucker has the opening of the mouth.
Habitat: They are distributed in patches throughout Europe even up to the Ural mountains. They prefer eutropic freshwater conditions. They live the land and water
Feeding: These are parasitic and feed on mammalian blood. The larva need other amphibians such as frogs and newts to parasitize for develpoment. They have 3 jaws in their anterior end.
Special Adaptation: These organism have anticoagulants and a anesthesia in their saliva. This increases their chances of not being detected during feeding.
Relationship with Humans: They have been used for medicinal purposes to promote blood flow in newly grafted tissue. Furthermore, they have also been used in phlebotomy for thousands of years. Also researchers are looking for an antibiotic application of their saliva.
Reference(s): http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/10190/0
http://eol.org/pages/401376/details
http://leeches-medicinalis.com/the-leeches/biology/
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Clitellata
Order: Arhynchobdellida
Date of encounter: 4/30/2013
The medicinal leech has 33 to 34 segments. It is dorsoventrally flattened with the dorsal end being darker than the ventral end. They range in color from brown to green. They have two suckers. One is located at the end of the anterior tip and the other is at the end of the posterior part of the worm. Mature adults can grow up to 20cm. Their anterior sucker has the opening of the mouth.
Habitat: They are distributed in patches throughout Europe even up to the Ural mountains. They prefer eutropic freshwater conditions. They live the land and water
Feeding: These are parasitic and feed on mammalian blood. The larva need other amphibians such as frogs and newts to parasitize for develpoment. They have 3 jaws in their anterior end.
Special Adaptation: These organism have anticoagulants and a anesthesia in their saliva. This increases their chances of not being detected during feeding.
Relationship with Humans: They have been used for medicinal purposes to promote blood flow in newly grafted tissue. Furthermore, they have also been used in phlebotomy for thousands of years. Also researchers are looking for an antibiotic application of their saliva.
Reference(s): http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/10190/0
http://eol.org/pages/401376/details
http://leeches-medicinalis.com/the-leeches/biology/
Giant Squid
Scientific name: Architeuthis spp
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Family: Architeuthidae
Date of encounter: 3/25/2013
The giant squid is quite the elusive animal. It is a deep-dwelling organism and as a result it has only been recently, with advances in technology, that it has been observed in it natural habitat (in 2004 the first pictures where taken in its deep-sea habitat.). Giant squids exhibit deep-sea gigantism. The largest specimen was found to be 18m (59 feet) long including the tentacles and weighing 900kg.
Along with the colossal squid, the giant squid has one of the largest eyes among all the animals. Each eye is about 10 inches (25cm) in diameter. Like other species of squid, giant squids have eight arms and two longer feeding tentacles. The tentacles are used to bring food like fish, shrimp and other squid to its beak-like mouth. It is said that they may prey on small whales as well.
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Family: Architeuthidae
Date of encounter: 3/25/2013
The giant squid is quite the elusive animal. It is a deep-dwelling organism and as a result it has only been recently, with advances in technology, that it has been observed in it natural habitat (in 2004 the first pictures where taken in its deep-sea habitat.). Giant squids exhibit deep-sea gigantism. The largest specimen was found to be 18m (59 feet) long including the tentacles and weighing 900kg.
Along with the colossal squid, the giant squid has one of the largest eyes among all the animals. Each eye is about 10 inches (25cm) in diameter. Like other species of squid, giant squids have eight arms and two longer feeding tentacles. The tentacles are used to bring food like fish, shrimp and other squid to its beak-like mouth. It is said that they may prey on small whales as well.
Cirrothauma
Scientific name: Cirrothauma murrayi
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Family: Cirroteuthidae
Date of encounter: 3/27/2013
This organism shares genetic similarities with the octopus. Unlike the octopus this organism has eyes with quite a reduced function: they are more like eyes that detect shapes and shadows rather than actual image-forming organs. Its eyes lack lenses. Their heads have a fin on each side. Almost like a squid's. Another interesting feature of creature is that its tentacles are webbed almost like how a duck foot is webbed. This gives it an umbrella shape when its arms are spread. The suckers on its tentacles are quite diminutive compared to an octopus's. They still have suction power but it is at a lower strength than the octopi's.
Like octopi, these animals feed on polychaetes and crustacean's. They have a beak-like mouth
The habitat of cirrothauma is at a depth ranging from 1500m to 4500m mostly in the North Atlantic. However it has also been spotted in the Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
Since the location of their habitat makes them hard to catch, there are few interaction opportunities between cirrothauma and humans.
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Family: Cirroteuthidae
Date of encounter: 3/27/2013
This organism shares genetic similarities with the octopus. Unlike the octopus this organism has eyes with quite a reduced function: they are more like eyes that detect shapes and shadows rather than actual image-forming organs. Its eyes lack lenses. Their heads have a fin on each side. Almost like a squid's. Another interesting feature of creature is that its tentacles are webbed almost like how a duck foot is webbed. This gives it an umbrella shape when its arms are spread. The suckers on its tentacles are quite diminutive compared to an octopus's. They still have suction power but it is at a lower strength than the octopi's.
Like octopi, these animals feed on polychaetes and crustacean's. They have a beak-like mouth
The habitat of cirrothauma is at a depth ranging from 1500m to 4500m mostly in the North Atlantic. However it has also been spotted in the Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
Since the location of their habitat makes them hard to catch, there are few interaction opportunities between cirrothauma and humans.
Giant African Land Snail
Scientific name: Achatina fulica
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Achatinoidea
Date of encounter: 4/16/2013
This is a picture of a Giant African Land Snail. You can almost get a good perspective of how large these snails can grow. They can be the size of an adult human fist or a mature rat.
Habitat: They thrive in tropical to subtropical climes but are have been shown to be able to survive in temperate climates as well.
Feeding: Like other mollusks of its class, it uses a radula to chafe food material like vegetation and detritus. They eat whatever green vegetation lies along its path.
Special Adaptation: They can enter into a state similar to hibernation to survive through the winter in temperate regions. This has allowed them to colonize new habitats beyond their normal tropical and subtropical environment. This adaptation naturally grew from their hibernation ability during dry season in their natural range.
Relationship with Humans: They are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world such as southern Nigeria. They are known as vigorous pests of crops and wild flowers since they can eat a broad range of vegetation. Also they are intermediate hosts and pests of pathogens that can infect humans. It is a highly invasive species. Beginning 2010, there has been a dramatic increase in their population.
Reference:
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Achatinoidea
Date of encounter: 4/16/2013
This is a picture of a Giant African Land Snail. You can almost get a good perspective of how large these snails can grow. They can be the size of an adult human fist or a mature rat.
Habitat: They thrive in tropical to subtropical climes but are have been shown to be able to survive in temperate climates as well.
Feeding: Like other mollusks of its class, it uses a radula to chafe food material like vegetation and detritus. They eat whatever green vegetation lies along its path.
Special Adaptation: They can enter into a state similar to hibernation to survive through the winter in temperate regions. This has allowed them to colonize new habitats beyond their normal tropical and subtropical environment. This adaptation naturally grew from their hibernation ability during dry season in their natural range.
Relationship with Humans: They are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world such as southern Nigeria. They are known as vigorous pests of crops and wild flowers since they can eat a broad range of vegetation. Also they are intermediate hosts and pests of pathogens that can infect humans. It is a highly invasive species. Beginning 2010, there has been a dramatic increase in their population.
Reference:
Giant Clam
Scientific name: Tridacna gigas
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Euheterodonta
Date of Encounter: 4/28/2013
The giant clam is the largest known mollusk. It can reach more than 1.2m in length and can weigh more than 200kg (440lb). No two clams have the same coloration. The colors of the clam is due to the mutualistic relationships with various kinds of algae.
Habitat: They are commonly found in the warm parts and the coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Ocean. They need to be near enough to the surface to permit their mutualistic algae to photosynthesize.
Feeding: They benefit from the metabolic products due to the algae in their tissues. However, they also feed on plankton in the water column using a siphon to draw them in and filter them.
Special Adaptation: Their mutualistic relationship with various algae allow them to grpw to an enormous size.
Relationship with Humans: Their adductor muscle is desired by humans as a delicacy. This has led to the hunting of these clams, significantly reducing their numbers in the wil
Reference: Information and image from:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/giant-clam/
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Euheterodonta
Date of Encounter: 4/28/2013
The giant clam is the largest known mollusk. It can reach more than 1.2m in length and can weigh more than 200kg (440lb). No two clams have the same coloration. The colors of the clam is due to the mutualistic relationships with various kinds of algae.
Habitat: They are commonly found in the warm parts and the coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Ocean. They need to be near enough to the surface to permit their mutualistic algae to photosynthesize.
Feeding: They benefit from the metabolic products due to the algae in their tissues. However, they also feed on plankton in the water column using a siphon to draw them in and filter them.
Special Adaptation: Their mutualistic relationship with various algae allow them to grpw to an enormous size.
Relationship with Humans: Their adductor muscle is desired by humans as a delicacy. This has led to the hunting of these clams, significantly reducing their numbers in the wil
Reference: Information and image from:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/giant-clam/
Shipworm
Scientific name: Teredo navalis
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Myoida
Date of Encounter: 5/8/2013
A shipworm is actually a mollusk shaped like a worm. This organism can reach 60cm in length in marine conditions. In smaller seas it is usually 20cm. The shells are 12mm long and they only cover a small part of the body. The siphons are at the ends of the body and they are used for breathing, expelling wastes and feeding.
Habitat: They are found in the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans. They can also be found in warm seas. They spend most of their lives borrowing in wood that they infest.
Feeding: They have two means of feeding: 1) they can filter plankton out of the water with siphons protruding from their burrows, and 2) they digest the cellulose of wood using endosymbiotic bacteria.
Special adaptation: They have a very tiny pair of shells which are used to burrow into wood. Their "tails" have siphons at the ends for breathing and for filter feeding
Relationship with Humans: Their infestations of wooden hulls of ships have plagued humans for centuries. These ruin the seaworthiness of ships and costs people a lot of money to repair or even replace affected parts.
On the other hand their endosymbiotic bacteria are the subject of various kinks of research.
Reference: A fellow classmates presentation. These were his sources:
•http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/nof/top/shipworm.html •http://animal.discovery.com/marine-life/shipworm-info.htm •"shipworm." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 201 Web. 08 Apr. 2013. •http://www.chesapeakebay.net/fieldguide/critter/goulds_shipworm
•http://news.in.msn.com/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=4970115&page=17
•http://www.vattenkikaren.gu.se/fakta/arter/mollusca /bivalvia/teredini/tere1e.html
•http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/shipworm.html •http://www.poseidonsciences.com/teredo-worm.html
http://wreckprotect.eu/fileadmin/site_upload/wreck_protect/pdf/shipwormspdfnew.pdf
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Myoida
Date of Encounter: 5/8/2013
A shipworm is actually a mollusk shaped like a worm. This organism can reach 60cm in length in marine conditions. In smaller seas it is usually 20cm. The shells are 12mm long and they only cover a small part of the body. The siphons are at the ends of the body and they are used for breathing, expelling wastes and feeding.
Habitat: They are found in the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans. They can also be found in warm seas. They spend most of their lives borrowing in wood that they infest.
Feeding: They have two means of feeding: 1) they can filter plankton out of the water with siphons protruding from their burrows, and 2) they digest the cellulose of wood using endosymbiotic bacteria.
Special adaptation: They have a very tiny pair of shells which are used to burrow into wood. Their "tails" have siphons at the ends for breathing and for filter feeding
Relationship with Humans: Their infestations of wooden hulls of ships have plagued humans for centuries. These ruin the seaworthiness of ships and costs people a lot of money to repair or even replace affected parts.
On the other hand their endosymbiotic bacteria are the subject of various kinks of research.
Reference: A fellow classmates presentation. These were his sources:
•http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/nof/top/shipworm.html •http://animal.discovery.com/marine-life/shipworm-info.htm •"shipworm." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 201 Web. 08 Apr. 2013. •http://www.chesapeakebay.net/fieldguide/critter/goulds_shipworm
•http://news.in.msn.com/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=4970115&page=17
•http://www.vattenkikaren.gu.se/fakta/arter/mollusca /bivalvia/teredini/tere1e.html
•http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/shipworm.html •http://www.poseidonsciences.com/teredo-worm.html
http://wreckprotect.eu/fileadmin/site_upload/wreck_protect/pdf/shipwormspdfnew.pdf
Green Hydra
Scientific name: Hydra viridissima
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hydrozoa
Family: Hydridae
Date of encounter: 3/27/2013
This hydra species gets its green color from the symbiotic relationship it has with Chlorella. The Chlorella makes its own food through photosynthesis and the hydra benefit from the food. Like other hydra the arms or tentacle range from 4 to 12. They are mostly sessile but they can move like inchworms when they want to change locations.
The tentacles of the green algae have nematocysts, cells that function like poison darts and are used to draw into capture food that include but not limited to fish fry, copepods, water fleas, and mosquito larvae.
Since it eats mosquito larvae, green hydra can help to control mosquito populations. Also they are good indicator species since they only survive in well oxygenated water. So they can help determine the oxygen content of lakes.
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hydrozoa
Family: Hydridae
Date of encounter: 3/27/2013
This hydra species gets its green color from the symbiotic relationship it has with Chlorella. The Chlorella makes its own food through photosynthesis and the hydra benefit from the food. Like other hydra the arms or tentacle range from 4 to 12. They are mostly sessile but they can move like inchworms when they want to change locations.
The tentacles of the green algae have nematocysts, cells that function like poison darts and are used to draw into capture food that include but not limited to fish fry, copepods, water fleas, and mosquito larvae.
Since it eats mosquito larvae, green hydra can help to control mosquito populations. Also they are good indicator species since they only survive in well oxygenated water. So they can help determine the oxygen content of lakes.
Venus' Girdle
Scientific name: Cestum veneris
Phylum: Ctenophora
Class: Tentaculata
Order: Cestida
Date of Encounter: 4/28/2013
This is a picture of Venus' girdle swimming in the ocean
Habitat: Populations of this organism are found in the epipelagic and mesopelagic parts of the South Atlantic, North Atlantic, West Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and in the Mediterranean. They are mostly found in tropical and sub-tropical waters. Most are found to be 80cm long but they can reach lengths up to 1.5m. They swim with the oral region leading the way
Feeding: They swim with the oral part of their body in the lead. The tentacles extending from the oral region trail along the body of the organism. When these tentacles come in contact with prey like copepods and other zooplankton, they capture them and take them to the mouth for ingestion.
Special adaptation: They are very thin and barely noticeable in the water column. This hides them from potential predators. also they have an intrigue escape response, When it perceives a predator, it begins to undulate like a worm and move in a perpendicular direction to the normal direction of motion.
Relationship with Humans: I did not find much at all on the interactions of humans and Venus' Girdle but I must say, they are very beautiful creatures
References: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=106363
http://jellieszone.com/cestum.htm
http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=zsao&id=2461
Phylum: Ctenophora
Class: Tentaculata
Order: Cestida
Date of Encounter: 4/28/2013
This is a picture of Venus' girdle swimming in the ocean
Habitat: Populations of this organism are found in the epipelagic and mesopelagic parts of the South Atlantic, North Atlantic, West Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and in the Mediterranean. They are mostly found in tropical and sub-tropical waters. Most are found to be 80cm long but they can reach lengths up to 1.5m. They swim with the oral region leading the way
Feeding: They swim with the oral part of their body in the lead. The tentacles extending from the oral region trail along the body of the organism. When these tentacles come in contact with prey like copepods and other zooplankton, they capture them and take them to the mouth for ingestion.
Special adaptation: They are very thin and barely noticeable in the water column. This hides them from potential predators. also they have an intrigue escape response, When it perceives a predator, it begins to undulate like a worm and move in a perpendicular direction to the normal direction of motion.
Relationship with Humans: I did not find much at all on the interactions of humans and Venus' Girdle but I must say, they are very beautiful creatures
References: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=106363
http://jellieszone.com/cestum.htm
http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=zsao&id=2461
Arctic Comb Jelly
Scientific name: Mertensia ovum
Phylum: Ctenophora
Class: Tentaculata
Order: Cydippida
Date of Encounter: 4/28/2013
This is a picture of an adult Arctic comb jelly. It does not really possess bioluminescence. The rainbow shimmering effect we see when we look at them is due to the refraction of light by the rows of ctenes on its body. Ctenes are rows of cilia that beat in a "Mexican wave" fashion along the body of the animal. Adults can by up to 10cm in length.
Habitat: These organisms live in the Arctic Ocean at depths not much lower than 50m. They are, of course, marine organisms.
Feeding: They feed on copepods and other zooplankton that are trapped in their sticky tentacles.
Special Adaptation: Their ctenes allow them to move gracefully through the water column. Their tentacles have side branches with colloblasts which are similar to nematocysts but do not inject toxins into prey. Rather these produce an adhesive substance to prey the escape of the prey
Relationship with Humans: I didn't find much information concerning the relationship this organism has with humans
Reference(s): Image - http://eol.org/pages/393273/overview
Phylum: Ctenophora
Class: Tentaculata
Order: Cydippida
Date of Encounter: 4/28/2013
This is a picture of an adult Arctic comb jelly. It does not really possess bioluminescence. The rainbow shimmering effect we see when we look at them is due to the refraction of light by the rows of ctenes on its body. Ctenes are rows of cilia that beat in a "Mexican wave" fashion along the body of the animal. Adults can by up to 10cm in length.
Habitat: These organisms live in the Arctic Ocean at depths not much lower than 50m. They are, of course, marine organisms.
Feeding: They feed on copepods and other zooplankton that are trapped in their sticky tentacles.
Special Adaptation: Their ctenes allow them to move gracefully through the water column. Their tentacles have side branches with colloblasts which are similar to nematocysts but do not inject toxins into prey. Rather these produce an adhesive substance to prey the escape of the prey
Relationship with Humans: I didn't find much information concerning the relationship this organism has with humans
Reference(s): Image - http://eol.org/pages/393273/overview
Beroe
Scientific name: Beroe forskalii
Phylum: Ctenophora
Class: Nuda
Order: Beroida
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
The rows of cilia (ctenes) on this comb jelly have a shimmering effect because they refract light. The ctenes enable them to move in a gliding motion.
Habitat: This species lives in the Altantic and Pacific oceans in deep water.
Feeding: This feeds on other comb jellies. When it encounters a comb jelly, it opens its mouth to engulf the entire prey. Then it seals it mouth and begins to digest it.
Special Adaptation: The 8 rows of ctenes allow it to glide through the oceans. It is a graceful but strong swimmer.
Relationship with Humans: They are used in large aquariums for display
Reference(s):
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=106358
http://jellieszone.com/beroe.htm
Phylum: Ctenophora
Class: Nuda
Order: Beroida
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
The rows of cilia (ctenes) on this comb jelly have a shimmering effect because they refract light. The ctenes enable them to move in a gliding motion.
Habitat: This species lives in the Altantic and Pacific oceans in deep water.
Feeding: This feeds on other comb jellies. When it encounters a comb jelly, it opens its mouth to engulf the entire prey. Then it seals it mouth and begins to digest it.
Special Adaptation: The 8 rows of ctenes allow it to glide through the oceans. It is a graceful but strong swimmer.
Relationship with Humans: They are used in large aquariums for display
Reference(s):
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=106358
http://jellieszone.com/beroe.htm
Water Bear
Scientific name: Echiniscis spp
Phylum: Tardigrada
Class: Heterotardigrada
Order: Echiniscoidea
Date of Encounter: 5/9/2013
These creatures are less than 1mm in length. They maybe be tiny but they are certainly not vulnerable. They are extremophiles and as a result of their various adaptations to harsh conditions they can survive in a wide variety of environments.
Habitat: They are found in a wide variety of locations ranging from high elevations in the Himalayas to the dark depths of the oceans; from hot springs to ice beds, etc. Moreover they can be found in human households in a variety of locations. They not known to be pests.
Feeding: They feed mostly by sucking juices from plants. Some are carnivorous and suck fluids from animals as well
Special Adaptation: They can enter into a state of suspended animation called a tun when environmental conditions become unfavorable. In this state, the can survive for many years even decades. They longest known time that this creature has survived in this suspended state is 120 years. A tun is formed when the animal tucks in its legs and head into its body. It can reduce its water content to 1% of its original value.
Relationship with Humans: Humans have used them in a variety of tests to investigate how living cells respond to adverse conditions. Research has subjected these animals to solar radiation and the vacuum of space and amazingly many of them survive. They are certainly not pushovers.
References: From a fellow classmate's presentation in class. Her sources include:
*http://resources.wardsci.com/livecare/tardigrades-water-bears/
*http://books.google.com/books?id=Dw4H6DBHnAgC&pg=PA106&lpg=PA106&dq=tardigrade+effect+on+humans&source=bl&ots=657YssHCTv&sig=KY_BflGGa_ECE9BksUt26G3WyHI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=a3NGUYHTEpTA4AOM3YCwCA&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=tardigrade%20effect%20on%20humans&f=false
*http://intl-icb.oxfordjournals.org/content/42/3/652.full
*http://tardigradesinspace.blogspot.com/ http://mudfooted.com/water-bear-world-toughest-animal
Phylum: Tardigrada
Class: Heterotardigrada
Order: Echiniscoidea
Date of Encounter: 5/9/2013
These creatures are less than 1mm in length. They maybe be tiny but they are certainly not vulnerable. They are extremophiles and as a result of their various adaptations to harsh conditions they can survive in a wide variety of environments.
Habitat: They are found in a wide variety of locations ranging from high elevations in the Himalayas to the dark depths of the oceans; from hot springs to ice beds, etc. Moreover they can be found in human households in a variety of locations. They not known to be pests.
Feeding: They feed mostly by sucking juices from plants. Some are carnivorous and suck fluids from animals as well
Special Adaptation: They can enter into a state of suspended animation called a tun when environmental conditions become unfavorable. In this state, the can survive for many years even decades. They longest known time that this creature has survived in this suspended state is 120 years. A tun is formed when the animal tucks in its legs and head into its body. It can reduce its water content to 1% of its original value.
Relationship with Humans: Humans have used them in a variety of tests to investigate how living cells respond to adverse conditions. Research has subjected these animals to solar radiation and the vacuum of space and amazingly many of them survive. They are certainly not pushovers.
References: From a fellow classmate's presentation in class. Her sources include:
*http://resources.wardsci.com/livecare/tardigrades-water-bears/
*http://books.google.com/books?id=Dw4H6DBHnAgC&pg=PA106&lpg=PA106&dq=tardigrade+effect+on+humans&source=bl&ots=657YssHCTv&sig=KY_BflGGa_ECE9BksUt26G3WyHI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=a3NGUYHTEpTA4AOM3YCwCA&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=tardigrade%20effect%20on%20humans&f=false
*http://intl-icb.oxfordjournals.org/content/42/3/652.full
*http://tardigradesinspace.blogspot.com/ http://mudfooted.com/water-bear-world-toughest-animal
Pea Aphid
Scientific name: Acyrthosiphon pisum
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Homoptera
Date of encounter: 4/19/2013
This is a picture of an aphid on the stem of a plant with other aphid nymphs. They are probably feeding on the plant, feeding on the nutrients from its phloem tissue. Aphids could probably be the lice of the plant kingdom.
Habitat: They are found on all continents except Antarctica. Pea aphids colonize a variety of plants but they focus mainly on Leguminous plants such as beans, alfalfa, clovers and, of course, cow pea. They feed on the nutrient rich phloem tissue in leaves and stems using their proboscis.
Feeding: Using their proboscis they pierce into the phloem tissue and the pumping pressure of the plant's vascular system channels the nutritious sap into the gut of the aphid. It is passive process; the aphid does not use energy to suck the juices out of the plant.
Special adaptation: They are able to synthesize carotenoids, important pigments that are involved in photosynthesis. Experiments have been conducted that shows that they produce ATP but more research is needed to understand why they produce this excess ATP since most of the energy they need is obtained from the plant they feed on. This could make them one of the first animals that truly photosynthesizes.
Relationship with Human: They are important economic pests, greatly reducing the productivity of leguminous crops. However, they are also good subjects for research since they reproduce prolifically and they reach maturity quickly.
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Homoptera
Date of encounter: 4/19/2013
This is a picture of an aphid on the stem of a plant with other aphid nymphs. They are probably feeding on the plant, feeding on the nutrients from its phloem tissue. Aphids could probably be the lice of the plant kingdom.
Habitat: They are found on all continents except Antarctica. Pea aphids colonize a variety of plants but they focus mainly on Leguminous plants such as beans, alfalfa, clovers and, of course, cow pea. They feed on the nutrient rich phloem tissue in leaves and stems using their proboscis.
Feeding: Using their proboscis they pierce into the phloem tissue and the pumping pressure of the plant's vascular system channels the nutritious sap into the gut of the aphid. It is passive process; the aphid does not use energy to suck the juices out of the plant.
Special adaptation: They are able to synthesize carotenoids, important pigments that are involved in photosynthesis. Experiments have been conducted that shows that they produce ATP but more research is needed to understand why they produce this excess ATP since most of the energy they need is obtained from the plant they feed on. This could make them one of the first animals that truly photosynthesizes.
Relationship with Human: They are important economic pests, greatly reducing the productivity of leguminous crops. However, they are also good subjects for research since they reproduce prolifically and they reach maturity quickly.
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Coconut Crab
Scientific name: Birgus latro
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Date of encounter: 5/7/2013
This is a picture of a coconut crab descending a tree. It is considered as one of the largest of arthropods. They are also long-lived creatures as well. They are theorized to live up 40 years.
Habitat: They are found on beaches along the Indian Ocean and the East Pacific Ocean. These include countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, and other oceanic countries.
Feeding: As their name suggests, they feed on coconuts. They are known to climb trees and use their large front appendages to cut coconuts to the ground. Then they climb down and tear the coconut apart to reach the soft pulp. They also eat fruits and other organic plant material they find. Their juveniles are known to eat the exoskeletons they have molted.
Special adaptation: They have a hard exoskeleton as an adult, a necessary adaptation to survive in terrestrial habitats. Their juvenile stages are marine and as they develop, they become amphibious and live like hermit crabs. Eventually, their exoskeleton hardens enough to
Relationship with Humans: They are eaten by some peoples.
References: http://eol.org/pages/2982586/overview
A fellow classmate's presentation. His sources are:
§“Birgus latro.” The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Web. 16 April 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/2811/0
§“Birgus latro: Biology.” Encyclopedia of Life. 16 April 2013. Retrieved from: http://eol.org/pages/2982586/overview
§Cameron, J. N.; Mecklenburg, T. A. “Aerial gas exchange in the coconut crab, Birgus latro with some notes on Gecarcoidea lalandii”. Respiration Physiology 1973, 19, 245-261. “Coconut Crab Fact File.” Archive.org. Web. 16 April 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.arkive.org/coconut-crab/birgus-latro
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Date of encounter: 5/7/2013
This is a picture of a coconut crab descending a tree. It is considered as one of the largest of arthropods. They are also long-lived creatures as well. They are theorized to live up 40 years.
Habitat: They are found on beaches along the Indian Ocean and the East Pacific Ocean. These include countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, and other oceanic countries.
Feeding: As their name suggests, they feed on coconuts. They are known to climb trees and use their large front appendages to cut coconuts to the ground. Then they climb down and tear the coconut apart to reach the soft pulp. They also eat fruits and other organic plant material they find. Their juveniles are known to eat the exoskeletons they have molted.
Special adaptation: They have a hard exoskeleton as an adult, a necessary adaptation to survive in terrestrial habitats. Their juvenile stages are marine and as they develop, they become amphibious and live like hermit crabs. Eventually, their exoskeleton hardens enough to
Relationship with Humans: They are eaten by some peoples.
References: http://eol.org/pages/2982586/overview
A fellow classmate's presentation. His sources are:
§“Birgus latro.” The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Web. 16 April 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/2811/0
§“Birgus latro: Biology.” Encyclopedia of Life. 16 April 2013. Retrieved from: http://eol.org/pages/2982586/overview
§Cameron, J. N.; Mecklenburg, T. A. “Aerial gas exchange in the coconut crab, Birgus latro with some notes on Gecarcoidea lalandii”. Respiration Physiology 1973, 19, 245-261. “Coconut Crab Fact File.” Archive.org. Web. 16 April 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.arkive.org/coconut-crab/birgus-latro
Pistol Shrimp
Scientific name: Alpheus heterochaelis
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
This is an amazing creature found in shallow regions of tropical seas. They have an enlarged specialized front claw that is bigger than the other claw. It is not as bigger as a human finger but its big claw packs a sonic punch.
Habitat: It is found in the shallow region of tropical seas.
Feeding: They feed on small fish and other shrimp using their bigger claw. The claw can be cocked like a shotgun and when prey are close enough, the claw snaps and shoot a cannon of pressurized water at the prey stunning or killing it. Then it can drag the prey into its hiding place to feed in it.
Special Adaptation: If the big claw is lost, the smaller claw can develop into the shooting claw. So it can switch handedness if it has to, Also it has a symbiotic relationship a goby. It has and antennae on the goby and responds to and sudden twitch the fish makes when potential danger approaches. This way the shrimp makes use of the goby's superior vision to hide from predators.
Relationship with Humans: They are sometimes used as aquarium species even though their snapping could break glass.
Reference(s):
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/09/a-shrimp-is-one-of-the-loudest-animals-on-the-planet/
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/animals/invertebrates-animals/crabs-lobsters-shrimp/deadliest-pistol-shrimp/
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
This is an amazing creature found in shallow regions of tropical seas. They have an enlarged specialized front claw that is bigger than the other claw. It is not as bigger as a human finger but its big claw packs a sonic punch.
Habitat: It is found in the shallow region of tropical seas.
Feeding: They feed on small fish and other shrimp using their bigger claw. The claw can be cocked like a shotgun and when prey are close enough, the claw snaps and shoot a cannon of pressurized water at the prey stunning or killing it. Then it can drag the prey into its hiding place to feed in it.
Special Adaptation: If the big claw is lost, the smaller claw can develop into the shooting claw. So it can switch handedness if it has to, Also it has a symbiotic relationship a goby. It has and antennae on the goby and responds to and sudden twitch the fish makes when potential danger approaches. This way the shrimp makes use of the goby's superior vision to hide from predators.
Relationship with Humans: They are sometimes used as aquarium species even though their snapping could break glass.
Reference(s):
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/09/a-shrimp-is-one-of-the-loudest-animals-on-the-planet/
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/animals/invertebrates-animals/crabs-lobsters-shrimp/deadliest-pistol-shrimp/
Army Worm
Scientific name: Spodoptera frugiperda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Date of Encounter: 5/9/2013
This is actually the caterpillar stage of a moth. This caterpillar is known for its voracious appetite and army-like swarms that "march" across vegetation and farmland, eating plants in their path. It can be 1.5-2 inches long. The moth stage is shown in a picture below.
Habitat: They are found in the U.S., in states east of the Rocky Mountains during the summer. They are also found year round in southern states like Texas and Florida. They cannot survive cold weather. They infest gardens, fields and grasslands and are notorious for eating into corn ears.
Feeding: They feed on a wide range of plants including corn, soybeans, broad-leafed plants, rice, cotton, and small grains. They feed in the day and migrate in swarms during the night. Swarms are typically hundreds of thousands in number. Late planted fields are at higher risk of infestation.
Special Adaptation: They are voracious feeders with mouthparts adapted for chewing plant material. The pupate underground and emerge as moths. The adult moth stage is equipped with strong wings which they use to fly long distances to lay eggs
Relationship with Humans: Their infestations have ruined fields of economically important crops such as corn and soybeans. As a result, people are trying to develop effective ways to control them. New types of insecticides are being developed for this reason.
Reference(s): A fellow classmates presentation. These were his sources:
¡Bessiin, Ric. “Fall Armyworm”. University of Kentucky Entomology. 23 April 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef110.asp
¡Capinera, John L. “Featured Creatures: Fall Armyworm”. University of Florida IFAS. 23 April 2013. Retrieved from: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/field/fall_armyworm.htm
¡Sparks, Alton N. “A Review of the Biology of the Fall Armyworm”. The Florida Entomologist
Vol. 62, No. 2 (Jun., 1979), pp. 82-87.
¡“Spodoptera frugiperda”. Encyclopedia of Life. 23 April 2013. Retrieved from: http://eol.org/pages/533408/hierarchy_entries/47950591/overview
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Date of Encounter: 5/9/2013
This is actually the caterpillar stage of a moth. This caterpillar is known for its voracious appetite and army-like swarms that "march" across vegetation and farmland, eating plants in their path. It can be 1.5-2 inches long. The moth stage is shown in a picture below.
Habitat: They are found in the U.S., in states east of the Rocky Mountains during the summer. They are also found year round in southern states like Texas and Florida. They cannot survive cold weather. They infest gardens, fields and grasslands and are notorious for eating into corn ears.
Feeding: They feed on a wide range of plants including corn, soybeans, broad-leafed plants, rice, cotton, and small grains. They feed in the day and migrate in swarms during the night. Swarms are typically hundreds of thousands in number. Late planted fields are at higher risk of infestation.
Special Adaptation: They are voracious feeders with mouthparts adapted for chewing plant material. The pupate underground and emerge as moths. The adult moth stage is equipped with strong wings which they use to fly long distances to lay eggs
Relationship with Humans: Their infestations have ruined fields of economically important crops such as corn and soybeans. As a result, people are trying to develop effective ways to control them. New types of insecticides are being developed for this reason.
Reference(s): A fellow classmates presentation. These were his sources:
¡Bessiin, Ric. “Fall Armyworm”. University of Kentucky Entomology. 23 April 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef110.asp
¡Capinera, John L. “Featured Creatures: Fall Armyworm”. University of Florida IFAS. 23 April 2013. Retrieved from: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/field/fall_armyworm.htm
¡Sparks, Alton N. “A Review of the Biology of the Fall Armyworm”. The Florida Entomologist
Vol. 62, No. 2 (Jun., 1979), pp. 82-87.
¡“Spodoptera frugiperda”. Encyclopedia of Life. 23 April 2013. Retrieved from: http://eol.org/pages/533408/hierarchy_entries/47950591/overview
Sea Pig
Scientific name: Scotoplanes globosa
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Elasipodida
Date of Encounter: 4/27/2013
You can almost see the resemblance to a land pig.
Habitat: This is an abysmal marine animal. It is found in all the world's oceans at great depths up to 6000 meters or more. In the Southern Ocean around Antarctica it can be found at shallower depths due to the great cold temperatures of the region.
Feeding: They are detritivores, eating decaying or dead organic matter falling from the surface and shallower depths above them. They are selective in this form of feeding, only eating detritus that is fresh (100 days). They seem to have an anterior region with multiple "legs" with feelers at the ends to detect food and convey it to the mouth. This could be a sign of cephalization.
Special Adaptation: They have "legs" that extend and retract due to a water vascular system. This enables them to move along the ocean floor even though it is slow. They can have a mutualistic relationship with a fish that lives in its anus.
Relationship with Humans: Toys shaped like the sea pig are sold in Japan and on ebay.
References: http://echinoblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/because-you-demanded-it-sea-pig-aka.html
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Holothuroidea
Order: Elasipodida
Date of Encounter: 4/27/2013
You can almost see the resemblance to a land pig.
Habitat: This is an abysmal marine animal. It is found in all the world's oceans at great depths up to 6000 meters or more. In the Southern Ocean around Antarctica it can be found at shallower depths due to the great cold temperatures of the region.
Feeding: They are detritivores, eating decaying or dead organic matter falling from the surface and shallower depths above them. They are selective in this form of feeding, only eating detritus that is fresh (100 days). They seem to have an anterior region with multiple "legs" with feelers at the ends to detect food and convey it to the mouth. This could be a sign of cephalization.
Special Adaptation: They have "legs" that extend and retract due to a water vascular system. This enables them to move along the ocean floor even though it is slow. They can have a mutualistic relationship with a fish that lives in its anus.
Relationship with Humans: Toys shaped like the sea pig are sold in Japan and on ebay.
References: http://echinoblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/because-you-demanded-it-sea-pig-aka.html
Crown of Thorns
Scientific name: Acanthaster planci
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Date of encounter: 5/7/2013
This is a picture of crown of thorns on a coral reef
Habitat: It is found in coral reefs in warm areas of the Indian Ocean and East Pacific Ocean especially on the Great Barrier Reef. It is also found on coral reefs from Panama to California
Feeding: They feed on sclerectinian corals which are sessile invertebrates. They also feed on dead animals in the oceans. They can consume almost 478 square cm of coral everyday. So they can destroy coral reefs very fast. Of recent, there has been an increase in reef destruction by these creatures. People hypothesize that this increase is due to reduction of predators due to over-hunting.
Special Adaptation: They are covered in thorns which serve mainly for protection.
Relationship with Humans: Since they attack beautiful coral reefs, people have been trying to exterminate them or control their population.
References: A fellow classmate's presentation. These were his sources:
¨http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Acanthaster_planci/#food_habits
¨http://www.stanford.edu/group/microdocs/crownofthorns.html
¨http://sea.sheddaquarium.org/sea/fact_sheets.asp?id=69
¨http://www.reefed.edu.au/home/explorer/animals/marine_invertebrates/echinoderms/crown_of_thorns
¨Pictures taken from same sources
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Date of encounter: 5/7/2013
This is a picture of crown of thorns on a coral reef
Habitat: It is found in coral reefs in warm areas of the Indian Ocean and East Pacific Ocean especially on the Great Barrier Reef. It is also found on coral reefs from Panama to California
Feeding: They feed on sclerectinian corals which are sessile invertebrates. They also feed on dead animals in the oceans. They can consume almost 478 square cm of coral everyday. So they can destroy coral reefs very fast. Of recent, there has been an increase in reef destruction by these creatures. People hypothesize that this increase is due to reduction of predators due to over-hunting.
Special Adaptation: They are covered in thorns which serve mainly for protection.
Relationship with Humans: Since they attack beautiful coral reefs, people have been trying to exterminate them or control their population.
References: A fellow classmate's presentation. These were his sources:
¨http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Acanthaster_planci/#food_habits
¨http://www.stanford.edu/group/microdocs/crownofthorns.html
¨http://sea.sheddaquarium.org/sea/fact_sheets.asp?id=69
¨http://www.reefed.edu.au/home/explorer/animals/marine_invertebrates/echinoderms/crown_of_thorns
¨Pictures taken from same sources
African Dung Beetle
Scientific name: Neateuchus proboscideus
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Date of encounter: 4/28/2013
The picture shows an African Dung Beetle rolling up a ball of dung to a moist and soft area where it can bury it and probably lay eggs. The larva depend on the dung ball for nutrition during its development to adulthood.
Habitat: Dung beetles are found on all continents. The African dung beetle is found in the savanna plains of Africa.
Feeding: They feed mostly on dung of livestock, elephants and other animals of the savannah. They tend to prefer the dung of herbivores as opposed to omnivores.
Special Adaptation: They have strong front legs and powerful back legs to roll dung that is more than twice their weight. They are known to use the polarization of moonlight to navigate.
Relationship with Humans: They do not really have a direct relationship with humans but their activities are important in the recycling of nutrients back into the environment and the prevention of the growth of pests like flies that negatively affect livestock.
Reference(s): http://www.exploringnature.org/db/detail.php?dbID=43&detID=923
video.nationalgeographic.com/.../beetles/beetle_dun...
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Date of encounter: 4/28/2013
The picture shows an African Dung Beetle rolling up a ball of dung to a moist and soft area where it can bury it and probably lay eggs. The larva depend on the dung ball for nutrition during its development to adulthood.
Habitat: Dung beetles are found on all continents. The African dung beetle is found in the savanna plains of Africa.
Feeding: They feed mostly on dung of livestock, elephants and other animals of the savannah. They tend to prefer the dung of herbivores as opposed to omnivores.
Special Adaptation: They have strong front legs and powerful back legs to roll dung that is more than twice their weight. They are known to use the polarization of moonlight to navigate.
Relationship with Humans: They do not really have a direct relationship with humans but their activities are important in the recycling of nutrients back into the environment and the prevention of the growth of pests like flies that negatively affect livestock.
Reference(s): http://www.exploringnature.org/db/detail.php?dbID=43&detID=923
video.nationalgeographic.com/.../beetles/beetle_dun...
Pinworm
Scientific name: Enterobius spp
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Secernentea
Order: Oxyurida
Date of encounter: 5/7/2013
This picture shows a couple of pinworms. At the bottom of the picture you can see the edge of a ruler. This can be used to put the length of the worms into scale. Females have a length of 8mm-13mm and the smaller males range from 2mm-5mm. Males have a curved posterior end that helps them to copulate.
Habitat: They live in the large intestine. They are parasites of people, especially school-age children, around the world
Feeding: They feed on fecal material in the large intestine
Special Adaptation: The females have a behavioral adaptation in which they go outside while the host is sleeping and lay eggs in the skin around the anus. These eggs can be picked up by the host's scratching of the anus and transferred to another location. If ingested, the eggs can start to develop in a new host.
Relationship with Humans: They are parasites of humans but they don't carry diseases; although the itching they cause create sores that can be infected. They can be easily spread throughout a family so treatment should involve the whole family.
References:
•Vermund, S.H.; Wilson, C.M. Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis). Seminars in Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2000. 11(4): 252-256
•Gutiérrez, Yezid (2000). Diagnostic pathology of parasitic infections with clinical correlations. 2009. Oxford University Press. •http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/pinworm/ •http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Secernentea
Order: Oxyurida
Date of encounter: 5/7/2013
This picture shows a couple of pinworms. At the bottom of the picture you can see the edge of a ruler. This can be used to put the length of the worms into scale. Females have a length of 8mm-13mm and the smaller males range from 2mm-5mm. Males have a curved posterior end that helps them to copulate.
Habitat: They live in the large intestine. They are parasites of people, especially school-age children, around the world
Feeding: They feed on fecal material in the large intestine
Special Adaptation: The females have a behavioral adaptation in which they go outside while the host is sleeping and lay eggs in the skin around the anus. These eggs can be picked up by the host's scratching of the anus and transferred to another location. If ingested, the eggs can start to develop in a new host.
Relationship with Humans: They are parasites of humans but they don't carry diseases; although the itching they cause create sores that can be infected. They can be easily spread throughout a family so treatment should involve the whole family.
References:
•Vermund, S.H.; Wilson, C.M. Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis). Seminars in Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2000. 11(4): 252-256
•Gutiérrez, Yezid (2000). Diagnostic pathology of parasitic infections with clinical correlations. 2009. Oxford University Press. •http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/pinworm/ •http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Gnathostoma
Scientific name: Gnathostoma spinigerum
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Secernentea
Order: Spirurida
Date of Encounter: 5/12/2013
the length of this organism ranges from 11mm to 54mm. It has a bulbous head with a pair of lateral lips and armed with rows of rough cuticular spines. The body is typically pink. The rest of the body is fairly devoid of spines except the posterior tip.
Habitat: This organism is endemic to Thailand but it has been identified in other Southeast Asian countries. Cases have also been seen in Mexico, Australia and the United States.
Feeding: This organism is a flesh-eater and it secretes digestive enzymes on the tissue to digest it extracellularly. This digestion continues in the lumen of the worm and is completed intracellularly. This method of feeding has enabled the worm to bore through various kinds of tissue.
Special Adaptation: It has a life cycle with various kinds of hosts including pigs, cows and humans. Humans are not the definitive host so it usually does not mature in human beings.
Relationship with Humans: It has a negative influence of people. It causes a skin disease called gnathostomaisis which is transmitted to human beings when they eat undercooked infected meat of cows, pigs etc
Reference: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gnathostoma_spinigerum/
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Secernentea
Order: Spirurida
Date of Encounter: 5/12/2013
the length of this organism ranges from 11mm to 54mm. It has a bulbous head with a pair of lateral lips and armed with rows of rough cuticular spines. The body is typically pink. The rest of the body is fairly devoid of spines except the posterior tip.
Habitat: This organism is endemic to Thailand but it has been identified in other Southeast Asian countries. Cases have also been seen in Mexico, Australia and the United States.
Feeding: This organism is a flesh-eater and it secretes digestive enzymes on the tissue to digest it extracellularly. This digestion continues in the lumen of the worm and is completed intracellularly. This method of feeding has enabled the worm to bore through various kinds of tissue.
Special Adaptation: It has a life cycle with various kinds of hosts including pigs, cows and humans. Humans are not the definitive host so it usually does not mature in human beings.
Relationship with Humans: It has a negative influence of people. It causes a skin disease called gnathostomaisis which is transmitted to human beings when they eat undercooked infected meat of cows, pigs etc
Reference: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Gnathostoma_spinigerum/
Horsehair Worm
Scientific name: Gordionus violaceus
Phylum: Nematomorpha
Class: Gordioidea
Order: Chordodidae
Date of Encounter: 5/12/2013
These organisms genuinely resemble single strands of horsehair. They range in diameter from 1mm - 2mm. They are also usually from 10cm -100cm in length. They have a thick iridescent cuticle which reinforces their body structure. Moreover, they have longitudinal muscles throughout their length to enable them to move to a different location.
Habitat: This species lives in freshwater in temporary ponds and flowing water.
Feeding: Different stages of the life cycle have different means of obtaining food. The adult stage has a degenerate gut which is not suited for digestion of injected food. The parasitic stage embeds itself into the hemocoel of its host and absorbs nutrients through its skin. Hosts of the parasitic stage consists of arthropods such as crustacea, orthopterans etc
Special Adaptation: Parasitic larval stages of this organism can cause the host insect to seek water and drown itself. This is useful in enabling the free-living adult stage to emerge in its appropriate habitat when the larval stage is complete.
Relationship with Humans: They have been researched for their evolutionary significance and their similarity to rotifers and nematodes. They have also been the subject of research to understand parasite-induced behavior alterations.
Reference(s): Information about this organism was culled from a former classmates presentation. These were her sources:
—http://www.bumblebee.org/invertebrates/NEMATOMORPHA.
htm --http://eol.org/pages/1539/overview --
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/parasitic-worms-in-humans.html
Phylum: Nematomorpha
Class: Gordioidea
Order: Chordodidae
Date of Encounter: 5/12/2013
These organisms genuinely resemble single strands of horsehair. They range in diameter from 1mm - 2mm. They are also usually from 10cm -100cm in length. They have a thick iridescent cuticle which reinforces their body structure. Moreover, they have longitudinal muscles throughout their length to enable them to move to a different location.
Habitat: This species lives in freshwater in temporary ponds and flowing water.
Feeding: Different stages of the life cycle have different means of obtaining food. The adult stage has a degenerate gut which is not suited for digestion of injected food. The parasitic stage embeds itself into the hemocoel of its host and absorbs nutrients through its skin. Hosts of the parasitic stage consists of arthropods such as crustacea, orthopterans etc
Special Adaptation: Parasitic larval stages of this organism can cause the host insect to seek water and drown itself. This is useful in enabling the free-living adult stage to emerge in its appropriate habitat when the larval stage is complete.
Relationship with Humans: They have been researched for their evolutionary significance and their similarity to rotifers and nematodes. They have also been the subject of research to understand parasite-induced behavior alterations.
Reference(s): Information about this organism was culled from a former classmates presentation. These were her sources:
—http://www.bumblebee.org/invertebrates/NEMATOMORPHA.
htm --http://eol.org/pages/1539/overview --
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/parasitic-worms-in-humans.html
Arrow worm
Scientific name: Caecosagitta macrocephala
Phylum: Chaetognatha
Class: Sagittoidea
Order: Aphragmophora
Date of Encounter: 5/12/2013
This animal belongs to a group of organisms than ranges in length from 0.2cm -12cm in length. It has a rounded head with grasping spines on each side. The trunk of the body has cells with ammonia-filled vacuoles to control buoyancy. The tail has a horizontal tail fin to facilitate movement. This gives the animal a sharp head and a flattened tail, almost like an arrow (hence its name).
Habitat: This species is generally found below 700 meters in marine waters. They can be quite abundant and can amount to the majority of the biomass of the total organisms in their depth profile.
Feeding: They use tufts of hair on their heads to detect the swimming vibrations of nearby zooplankton and copepods. They home in on the prey and quickly snatch it with their teeth, injecting neurotoxins to paralyze the victim. Then they use their grasping spines to crush the prey and swallow it.
Special Adaptation: This species has the ability of bioluminescence. This is due to the oxidation of luciferin which creates light. They use bioluminescence to confuse potential predators so as to buy time to escape.
Relationship with Humans: Evolutionary studies have been carried out using this organism.
Reference(s): From a fellow classmates presentation. These were her sources:
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Chaetognatha#Classification
http://www.niobioinformatics.in/pdf/cheatognaths/General-Characters_Chaetognaths.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaetognatha
http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~haddock/abstracts/chaeto.html
Phylum: Chaetognatha
Class: Sagittoidea
Order: Aphragmophora
Date of Encounter: 5/12/2013
This animal belongs to a group of organisms than ranges in length from 0.2cm -12cm in length. It has a rounded head with grasping spines on each side. The trunk of the body has cells with ammonia-filled vacuoles to control buoyancy. The tail has a horizontal tail fin to facilitate movement. This gives the animal a sharp head and a flattened tail, almost like an arrow (hence its name).
Habitat: This species is generally found below 700 meters in marine waters. They can be quite abundant and can amount to the majority of the biomass of the total organisms in their depth profile.
Feeding: They use tufts of hair on their heads to detect the swimming vibrations of nearby zooplankton and copepods. They home in on the prey and quickly snatch it with their teeth, injecting neurotoxins to paralyze the victim. Then they use their grasping spines to crush the prey and swallow it.
Special Adaptation: This species has the ability of bioluminescence. This is due to the oxidation of luciferin which creates light. They use bioluminescence to confuse potential predators so as to buy time to escape.
Relationship with Humans: Evolutionary studies have been carried out using this organism.
Reference(s): From a fellow classmates presentation. These were her sources:
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Chaetognatha#Classification
http://www.niobioinformatics.in/pdf/cheatognaths/General-Characters_Chaetognaths.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaetognatha
http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~haddock/abstracts/chaeto.html
Giant Velvet Worm
Scientific name: Tasmanipatus barretti
Phylum: Onychophora
Class: Udeonychophora
Order: Euonychophora
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
The length of this organism varies depending on it activity. It is 35mm-40mm while resting and can extend to more than 75mm while walking. It has pink-purple coloration on its velvety skin.
Habitat: This species is endemic to Tasmania. It resides in rotting eucalyptus logs. These logs are also sites of mating and hunting for prey.
The habitat ranges from sea level to 500m high.
Feeding: It is solely carnivorous. It hunts at night. It uses a sticky mucoid glue that it ejects from two appendages on each side of its head.
Special Adaptation: The mucoid glue is not only relevant to hunting but it can be used in self preservation against predators
Relationship with Humans: It has been dubbed as a "non-missing missing link" between annelids and arthropods. Otherwise it is harmless to humans.
Reference(s): A fellow classmates good presentation
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Velvet-worm
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/biodiversity/endangered-species/tasmanipatus-barretti/taxonomy/index.html
Phylum: Onychophora
Class: Udeonychophora
Order: Euonychophora
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
The length of this organism varies depending on it activity. It is 35mm-40mm while resting and can extend to more than 75mm while walking. It has pink-purple coloration on its velvety skin.
Habitat: This species is endemic to Tasmania. It resides in rotting eucalyptus logs. These logs are also sites of mating and hunting for prey.
The habitat ranges from sea level to 500m high.
Feeding: It is solely carnivorous. It hunts at night. It uses a sticky mucoid glue that it ejects from two appendages on each side of its head.
Special Adaptation: The mucoid glue is not only relevant to hunting but it can be used in self preservation against predators
Relationship with Humans: It has been dubbed as a "non-missing missing link" between annelids and arthropods. Otherwise it is harmless to humans.
Reference(s): A fellow classmates good presentation
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Velvet-worm
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/biodiversity/endangered-species/tasmanipatus-barretti/taxonomy/index.html
Staghorn Coral
Scientific name: Acropora cervicornis
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Scleractinia
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
The branches of these corals can grow to a length of 2m. Their shape resemble male deer antlers, hence their name. The branches are cylindrical and the color of the coral is dependent on the type of zooxanthellae in symbiosis with it.
Habitat: They can be found in reefs in Florida, Puerto Rico, St. John/St. Thomas, St. Croix. The range of their habitat include the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and the Western Gulf of Mexico.
Feeding: The feed on the by-products of photosynthesis made by their symbiotic algae but they can also use their tentacles to filter the water of small zooplankton and tiny fishes.
Special Adaptation: Individual polyps of a colony are attached to a general nerve net. This allow for synchronous and coordinated response to stimuli by the entire colony.
Relationship with Humans: They are important reef species and many reef fishes depend on them for survival. So they are now being protected by humans to recuperate their falling population. Also the are used by aquarium owners as reef-building species.
Reference(s):
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/invertebrates/staghorncoral.htm
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Scleractinia
Date of Encounter: 5/13/2013
The branches of these corals can grow to a length of 2m. Their shape resemble male deer antlers, hence their name. The branches are cylindrical and the color of the coral is dependent on the type of zooxanthellae in symbiosis with it.
Habitat: They can be found in reefs in Florida, Puerto Rico, St. John/St. Thomas, St. Croix. The range of their habitat include the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and the Western Gulf of Mexico.
Feeding: The feed on the by-products of photosynthesis made by their symbiotic algae but they can also use their tentacles to filter the water of small zooplankton and tiny fishes.
Special Adaptation: Individual polyps of a colony are attached to a general nerve net. This allow for synchronous and coordinated response to stimuli by the entire colony.
Relationship with Humans: They are important reef species and many reef fishes depend on them for survival. So they are now being protected by humans to recuperate their falling population. Also the are used by aquarium owners as reef-building species.
Reference(s):
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/invertebrates/staghorncoral.htm
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