ant mounds

Just walking around at Phinizy and noticing there's so many ant mounds. I saw a bunch more after the video, of course.

Major Phyla Traits: Last Minute HW Assignment From AP BIO

Alexandria Tong

03/23/2014

AP BIO

Mckinney

                    Major Phyla and Their Traits

Porifera:

• single celled organisms that live in colonies
• the environment tends to influence the organism's appearance
• the algae living on them in symbiosis determine their color
• they are considered animals because of their colonial behavior
• communicate using chemical signals
• they are filter feeders, move their cilia to filter food into their spicules
• asexual and sexual reproduction
• invertebrate
• asymmetrical/radial symmetry

• no appendages, true tissues,or nerve system
• respire through diffusion
• Diverse skeletal compositions depending on species, for example: calcareous laminae, organic filaments and siliceous and calcium carbonate spicules
• excrete waste through diffusion
• secrete toxins to defend themselves
• mobile at juvenile stage

Fun Fact: there are 6,000 different species of sponges

Annelida:

• ex. earthworm; segmented worms
• bilateral symmetry
• true coelom
• have differentiated cells that form the organs; including a cerebral ganglion that acts like a brain
• they are hermaphrodite
• have a complete digestive system: includes pharynx, esophagus with
• calciferous glands, crop, gizzard, and
• intestine
• coordinated muscle movement allow for locomotion i.e. appendages encircle the dorsal surface of the body
• circulatory system carries oxygen to respective organs of the body
• hydraulic skeleton

Fun Fact: leeches are used for medical purposes involving limb reattachment

Chordata

• i. e. humans, dogs, cats
• all of these must be present at least at one point of development to be considered a chordate

               -pharyngeal gill slits,dorsal nerve cord, notochord,post-anal tail

• bilateral symmetry
• 3 germ layers
• blood is used to transport ATP, oxygen, and carbon dioxide
• 2-4 ventral heart
• bony or cartilaginous endoskeleton
• extensive cephalization
• vertebrae protects the dorsal, hollow nerve cord

Fun Fact: this highly diverse phylum includes humans: the supreme species of the planet!

Arthropoda

• i.e.insects, crustacean
• exoskeleton made of chitin
• sexual reproduction, mating ritual present
• they have brains with means higher intelligence ganglia runs along length of
• cord have strand-like nerves branching outward
• protostome development
• extensive cephalization: swimming, running, flying
• jointed legs/wings
• complete digestive system

Fun Fact: there are over 1 million species of Arthropods, all diverse

Platyhelminthes

• i.e. flat worms
• some parasitic
• 3 layers of cells
• proglottid segmented
• no mouth or anus
• head end has a cephalic ganglion
• eyes spots sense light and dark
• bilateral symmetry
• have true organs but no coelom
• respire through diffusion
• hydraulic skeleton filled with gastrovascular fluid
• nervous system organized similar to ladder with two lateral  cords connected by cords; some cephalization with sensory,  association, and motor neurons; eyespots detect light and dark

Fun Fact: they eyespots make them look crossed-eyed

Echinodermata

• i.e. sea stars, sand dollars
• water vascular system
• radial symmetry, during larva stage bilateral
• 3 cell layers
• soluble wastes released by diffusion across surface epithelium
• open circulatory system, lack heart
• vascular  system circulate coelomic fluid
• calcareous endoskeleton made of plates joined by connective tissue make up skeletal system
• no cephalization
• most have no special sense organs
• mouth on surface leads to cardiac, stomach, then to pyloric stomach with hepatic ceca extending into  each arm
• lack excretory organs
• sexual/asexual
• use spines for defense

Fun Fact: genetically related to Chordates

Mollusca

• i.e. snails, oysters, squid
• all have some type of shell for protection
• bilateral symmetry
• strong muscular foot for locomotion
• sense light and dark through eye spots
• 3 layers of cells
• Hard exoskeleton of calcium carbonate, exoskeleton prominently reduced or absent in most cephalopods
• Limited cephalization, but cephalopods they have giant nerve cells and complex behavior
• complete digestive system
• specialization for filter feeding in the water
• Nitrogenous wastes excreted into siphon by kidneys
• sexual reproduction, hermaphrodites
• tentacles are the appendages uses vary between species

Fun Fact: the cephalopods of the phylum are extremely intelligent and flexible

Cnidaria

• respire through diffusion
• two layer of cells
• hydrostatic skeleton
• no organs
• nematocysts
• digestive and nerve tissues present
• most mobile throughout life
• sexual or axsexual reproduction
• two stages in life: polyp and medusa
• radial symmetry
• they have tentacles

Fun Fact: the name Cnidaria comes from the Greek word ‘cnidos’, which means stinging nettle

Nematoda

• i.e. roundworms
• ring of nerves that act like a brain
• separate sexes, mostly
• excretory pore acts as a kidney and anus excretes solid forms of waste
• most are not parasitic
• bilaterally symmetrical
• body is covered by a cuticle
• sexually reproduce
• the digestive system is complete with a mouth and anus
• pseudocoelom
• life spans vary
• they move by contracting longitudinal muscles
• decomposers/predators

Fun Fact: there is a high abundance of these creatures, for example 90,000 words were found in 1 rotten apple

An AP BIO Assignment: The Night Before it Was Due

Alexandria Tong

03/23/2014

AP BIO

Mckinney

A List of The Traits of Phylum: Chordata Classes

Chordate: belonging or pertaining to the phylum Chordata, comprising the true vertebrates and those animals having a notochord, as the lancelets and tunicates.

Class:

              Reptilia

i.e snakes

• animals which are cold blooded
• The skin has cutaneous glands and keratin, it prevents water loss through the skint
• the scales and scutes are made of keratin and formed from the epidermis

• tetrapods with two sets of paired limbs

• spinal columns and a strong skeletal system with a rib cage

• well-developed brain and a central nervous system
• breath with well-developed lungs right at birth
• most have two lungs, except some snakes.have three-chambered hearts, except crocodiles
• have a digestive system that has a muscular opening at the base of the tail.
• 12 pairs of cranial nerve.
• amniotic eggs can survive without water, they have protective shells that allow oxygen and other gases to enter
• respiration by lungs only.
• offspring resemble the adults at the time of birth
• there is no metamorphosis
• lateral sense organs are absent
• internal fertilization, sperm is put into the reproductive tract of the female directly
• have a cloaca

Fun Fact: they are the first animals with amniotic eggs, that can be laid on land

Agnatha

i.e. hagfish, lamprey

• jawless fish
• don't have paired fins or a stomach
• notochord provides the main support for the body of an organism
• skeleton made of cartilage
• sensitive pineal eye
• fertilization of eggs takes place externally
• some parasitic
• sucker-like mouth
• feed on blood and tissues of other fish

Fun Fact: Scientists have found fossils of agnathan species from the late Cambrian Period

Chondrichthyes

i.e. sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras

• pelvic claspers, heterocercal tails, placoid scales, cartilage skeletons, teeth unattached to jaws, and the absence of swim bladders made  internal fertilization possible
• cartilaginous skeleton
• ventral side is lighter and the dorsal side is a darker, in terms of the color of their skin
• 
  
• 7 pairs of gill pouches
• no scales, just skin
• lacking in paired appendages
• red blood cells are made in the spleen
• denticles, tooth-like scales

Fun Fact: the shark continuously grows teeth, rows and rows of teeth await their turn to chomp on something

Osteichthyes

i.e. fish

• calcified bones
• endochondral bone replaces cartilage
• circulatory system in the bones creates osteoblasts,
• the eyeball  supported by sclerotic ring
• mucus gland+skin
• paired fins made of rays and spines
• types of scales: ctenoid, ganoid, or cycloid
• Marine and freshwater
• respire through gills
• external fertilization,oviparous,spawning
• No external ear structures
• No eyelids
• skeleton made of bone
• 2 chambered heart
• operculum covering gills
• brain has large optic lobes and cerebellum

Fun Fact:swimming bladder allow them to float even if they don’t move

Mammalia

i.e. hoomans

• warm blooded
• have hair made of keratin
• majority of heat energy is used to maintain high body temperature
• 2-4 chambered heart
• Mammary glands produce milk to nourish young
• diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity
• 7 cervical vertebrae  are present in most mammals
• most are viviparous, some are oviparous
• extended gestation period
• uterine development is common in most placental mammals
• Teeth embedded in the jaw bone
• well developed brain
• heterodont

• nostrils do not lead directly into his mouth.
• body maintained at a constant temperature heat generated within bodies metabolically and also have special cooling mechanisms
• developed neopallium

• corpus callosum in eutherians provides communication
• acute sense of smell, except in whales and higher apes
• eye typical of amniotes
• tapetum lucidum
• vibrissae controlled by facial muscles
• during mastication lateral movement of jaw will occur
• few lay eggs, most give live birth
• parental care=highly protective of young, usually

Fun Fact: humans are the most powerful and highly destructive species of this phylum, those with the exact name of Alexandria Tong are the most bootiful/attractive of the human species

Aves

i.e. birds

• warm-blooded
• exoskeleton of feathers.
• body spindle shaped, with four divisions: tail, neck, trunk, and head
• neck longer for balancing and food gathering.
• paired limbs
• forelimbs  modified for flying
• posterior pair adapted for perching, walking, and swimming
• epidermal covering of feathers and leg scales
• thin integument of epidermis and dermis
• no sweat glands
• Oil or preen gland at base of tail
• rudimentary ear
• fully ossified skeleton with air cavities.
• skull fused with occipital condyle
• jaw covered with keratinized sheath: beak
• no teeth
• single bone in middle ear
• fused bones in pelvis, feet, hands, and head
• Lightweight bones/hollow
• endothermic
• 4-chambered heart
• high metabolic rates
• Adept navigational abilities
• communication and song production
• nervous system well developed: 12 pairs of cranial nerves and brain with large cerebellum and optic lobes
• sexes separate
• prenatal care and parenting prominent

Fun Fact: many mating rituals require the male to make a show of himself, including flamboyant feathers to attract females

Amphibian

i.e. frogs; salamanders

• thrive well both on land and in water
• cold-blooded
• derive heat from outside their body
• skin is smooth, thin, hairless, porous, rarely scaled, and it contains mucus and poison glands
• endoskeleton with varying numbers of vertebrae
• 4 limbs, the forelimbs of some being much smaller than the hind limbs, some legless
• webbed feet are often present; no true nails or claws
• large mouth with small teeth
• Respiration by lungs, skin, and gills
• 3-chambered heart.
• separate sexes with internal fertilization and external fertilization
• 10 pairs of cranial nerve
• eggs are in water or in a moist environment

Fun Fact: Amphibians are the only Chordates to undergo complete metamorphosis