An Earthworm Tale
Earthworm dissection Pre-Ap Biology April 7, 2014 - Guzman
The Birth of a Beautiful Lumbricina
Learning At The Objective System
Benefits of an Earthworm:
Biological
Chemical
Physical
The Home and Ecology of An Earthworm
Earthworms form the base of many food chains. They are preyed upon by many species of birds, snakes, mammals, and invertebrates. Various species of worms are used in vermiculture, the practice of feeding organic waste to earthworms to decompose food waste.
Earthworm populations depend on both physical and chemical properties of the soil, such as temperature, moisture, pH, salts, aeration, and texture, as well as available food, and the ability of the species to reproduce and disperse. One of the most important environmental factors is pH, but earthworms vary in their preferences. Most favor neutral to slightly acidic soils.
The Lovely Heart of an Earthworm
External Anatomy
Crop - food storage
Mouth - opening for food to enter
Pharynx - muscle to suck in food(dirt)
Intestine - digestion of food
Gizzard - grinding food
Anus - where wastes exit
Esophagus - tube where food is passed from mouth to crop
Pharyngeal Muscles - supports pharynx, sucks in food
Internal Anatomy
Pharynx: part of the digestive tract of an earthworm just after its mouth.
Ventral nerve cord: set of nerves in the abdomen of an earthworm.
Seminal receptacle: pocket related to the semen of an earthworm.
Ventral blood vessel: blood vessel situated in the front part of an earthworm.
Nephridium: organ of an earthworm that performs the functions of kidneys.
Gizzard: pocket used as the stomach of an earthworm.
Dorsal blood vessel: blood vessel situated in the rear part of an earthworm.
Crop: bulge of the esophagus of an earthworm.
Seminal vesicles: small hollow organs that carry the semen of an earthworm.
Lateral heart: blood-pumping organ of an earthworm.
Esophagus: part of the digestive tract of an earthworm between the pharynx and the crop.
Brain: brain of an earthworm.
Life Cycle
Fun Facts About Earthworms!
Try Out An Earthworm Dissection!
Works Cited
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthworm
http://biology.unm.edu/ccouncil/Biology_203/Summaries/Protostomes.htm
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_14/BL_14.html
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/earthworms/
http://www.infovisual.info/02/006_en.html
http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/earthworm_dissection_key.html