Earthworm Dissection Lab
Earthworm dissection Vu- PAP Bio- 2
Earthworms
An earthworm is a segmented animal that feeds on dead and alive organic matter. Earthworms are hermaphrodites and are also invertebrates. "Earthworm" is the common name for the largest group of Oligochaeta in the phylum Annelida. Earthworms live in only healthy environments where there is plenty of water. Unlike most animals, earthworms can regenerate their body. They also provide lots of nutrients for our soil.
Earthworm Objectives
Students will learn about an earthworm's body parts, digestive system, circulatory system, and other background info. They will also learn the important role of earthworms in our ecosystems. They also will learn these things from previous dissections.
Earthworms Dissection Lab
Earthworm Dissection
Earthworm Life Cycle
After earthworms mate, their fertilized eggs are held in a protective cocoon. The baby worms also called hatchlings emerge and burrow into the soil for protection, until they grow into juvenile then mature worms.
Earthworm Habitat
All earthworms live at or under the surface of soil. The also do not live in dry or cold environments because they need warm moisture to survive. They all live in the conditions which are best suited for their survival.
Earthworm Predators and Food Consumption
Earthworms are prey of many different animals. Animals such as birds, snakes, rodents, and insects all feed on earthworms. While not being fed on, earthworms eat dirt. This is crucial to the environment because once earthworms consume dirt, they expel it out into a more rich form which provides nutrients to existing soil.
Earthworm Circulatory System
Circulatory System
The earthworm exhibits a closed circulatory system. Earthworms have 3 main ways of getting blood to their main organs. These 3 ways are the dorsal blood vessels, ventral blood vessels, and aortic arches. The (5) aortic arches pump blood to the ventral and dorsal blood vessels. The dorsal vessels pump blood to the front of the worm, and ventral vessels pump blood to the back of the earthworm.
Interesting Facts
2. There can be more than a million earthworms in one acre of land.
3. Earthworms are coldblooded.
4. If a earthworms skin dries out it will die.
5. Worms can eat the same amount as their weight everyday.
6. Charles Darwin studied earthworms for 39 years over a hundred years ago.
7. The largest earthworm ever found was 22 feet long in South Africa. ( craziness)
8. A 12 foot worm only weighs 1 pound.
9. Worms keep traveling until they find a perfect location.
10. Worms feed on soil.