Arthropods
Anthropods Lab Pre-AP Biology - VU
Arthropods
An Arthropod (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, "joint", and ποδός podos, "foot") is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton, a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Athropoda which may include insects, arachnids, and crustaceans. An example of arthropods would be the crayfish (The pictures above).
DID YOU KNOW?
Ancestral arthropods were the first land animals?
Arthropods are a highly successful group of animals—they account for over three quarters of all currently known living and fossil organisms?
During their life cycle, arthropods undergo a transformation called metamorphosis?
Arthropods shed their exoskeleton as they grow?
Today's Objectives
Students will be learning about the external and internal anatomy of Arthropods. Students will focus on the organs, structures, and functions of the respiratory system. Students will also understand the ecological role of Arthropods.
Arthropod Life Cycle
An arthropod's life cycle usually doesn't contain a larvae stage and they seperate from their mothers after only growing a few centimeters, and from there, they will venture out on their own.
Habitat
The only arthropods that live in aquatic habitats are crustaceans such as lobsters and crayfish, however, most of the other arthropods live on land.
Predators
Arthropods have a large range of predators ranging from raccoons to toothed fish such as the catfish or bass.
Evolutionary Relationships of Arthropods
Nervous System
location of the heart
Respiratory System
location of gills
External Anatomy
Telson, Abdomen, Head, Compound Eye, Rostrum, Carapace, and Cephalothrax
Respiratory System (Quick Overview)
The Crayfish a very unique way of breathing. The gills of the crayfish are located on the outside of the body between the crayfish body wall,carapace ( (the exoskeleton of the cephalothorax) and the lateral body wall, in the branchial chamber. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the blood and water across the gill surface as water is circulated through the branchial chamber by the beating of the gill bailer on the second maxilla. The crayfish's gills are attached to the walking legs, so as it walks, it can breath; and also has a pocket where water is stored. The water is stored so the crayfish can walk on land and still breath.
Ecology
Arthropods have an mutualistic relationship between animals. Arthropods have evolved to fill a variety of ecological niches, from tiny internal parasite to giant bird-eating predator. Arthropods mostly dwell in the 2nd trophic level (primary consumers), and come in great numbers.
Human Impact
Humans have used arthropods for food such as lobster, crabs, and shrimps and in the modern day, the creation of pesticides by human's have disrupted the population of arthropods as a whole. Additionally, arthropods are one of the vectors for some of the worlds diseases such as malaria.