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Brandon Kelly
Kyle Rockwell
Compare Ecology of Animals

Porifera/Sponges
Sponges provide habitats for other organisms such as snails, shrimp,
and sea stars because they are often large with irregular shapes. Also, the
microorganisms can produce nitrogen, which is used by many animals.
Their relationship with bacteria, algae, and plant like protists is
mutually beneficial. Many sponges are green because these organisms live
in their tissues. These photosynthetic organisms provide food and oxygen to
the sponge, while the sponge provides a protective area for the organisms to
survive. Specifically, bacteria make Nitrogen and algae photosynthesise.
Due to this relationship, sponges can play a critical role in the ecology and
productivity of coral reefs.
Since sponges are almost always attached to the sea floor, they
receive low levels of light. The spicules of some sponges look like crossshaped antennas and act as lens. They focus light to cells lying below the
surface of the sponge. This allows for symbiotic organisms to carry out
photosynthesis. This may allow sponges to have more varied habitats.
Cnidarian/Jellyfish
Cnidaria can intentionally move unlike Porifera. Also, they have more
specialized cells for specific functions such as stinging cells. Jellyfish have
numerous specialized cells compared to porifera. Jellyfish have stinging cells
as well as specialized muscle cells for movement. Nerve cells developed for
response to the environment.
Jellyfish have a kind of organ, the gastrovascular cavity, that will digest
foods. This is an advance over sponges which do not have a specified area
for food digestion.
Sponges are asymmetrical, whereas jellyfish evolved to have radial
symmetry. They can either be in the polyp or medusa stage. The polyp is a
cylindrical body with armlike tentacles that are sessile. Medusa are bell
shaped with mouths that point downward, they are the stereotypical looking
jellyfish.
Annelida/Earthworm
They have statocytes, cnidocytes, and epidermal cells that help with
digestion. Analida have a large range of feeding methods. Some filter feed,
many have a pharynx. Some use sharp jaws to catch prey and some have
sticky cells that attach to plants. The pharynx works when it extends and
presses against a surface, then absorbs. Some worms, such as earthworms,
pump soil and food into their internal digestive system. Here, the crop stores
and the gizzard grinds. They often breath through gills, which are
filamentous organs specialized for gas exchange underwater. Many worms
keep their skin moist with mucus to do so. Digestive waste in annelids
leaves through the anus, and cellular waste like nitrogen is destroyed by
nephridia, which are excretory organs that filter fluid in the coelum. Most
annelids have a brain and several nerve cords. Sensory tentacles, chemical
receptors, statocysts that help detect gravity, and two or more pairs of eyes.
They have two sets of muscles that contract and expand to move. Most
reproduce sexually, and some are hermaphrodites that produce sperm and
eggs. The citellum assists in reproducation.
Worms are the first organisms we have studied that have organs
instead of just specialized cells. They can sense gravity and have mouth and
anuses. They also have a developed digestive system, unlike previous
animals like cnidaria who had a gastrovascular cavity. They also have a full
circulatory system with blood vessels and aortic arches.
Annelida have a well-developed NS with nerves and senses. Both
annelida and cnidarian move through 2 pairs of muscles. Divided into
segments called septa. Each septa may have a specific function such as
respiration. Setae are bristles on each segment that help worms move.
They have a true coelom that is lined with mesoderm. This allows for mouth
to anus digestion. There are 3 types of annelids: oligochaetes, leeches, and
polychaetes.
Mollusks/Squid
They start off as trochophore, which are free swimming larva. This is
very similar to the annelids larva stage and it is likely they are very close
ancestors. While annelids may have sense organs, mollusks have far more
complex senses. Also, some mollusks have brains that can function to a high
level.
They have gills, like annelids. Mollusks have a lot larger range of food.
They can be omnivores, unlike any previous specimen. Like annelids, they
can circulate blood.
Annelids and mollusks can both have closed
circulatory systems, which are more efficient than open ones. Yet they have
two circulatory systems, which is new. The most important development is
the development of different sexes, where one has eggs and one sperm.
Mollusks are soft bodied animals usually have external or internal shell.
Like the annelids, mollusks have true coeloms surrounded by mesoderm
tissue. The body plan of most mollusks has four parts: foot, mantle, shell,
and visceral mass. Also, annelids and mollusks are the only organisms so far
to have digestive systems, yet mollusks are the only omnivores we've
studied so far. While worms may have two openings, mollusks only have
one, called a siphon.
Arthropoda/Grasshopper
The exoskeleton is strong and made of the protein chitin. They have
very developed sense 5 organs, but not as developed brains as mollusks.
They are also the first to have internal fertilization. Also, they have males
and females.
Arthropods are the first to have jointed appendages. They are the first
organisms we have studied to use multiple limbs to move. They help for
quick movement. They have tracheal tubes for breathing, these are by far
the closest orangs to human lungs that we have seen so far. Like some
mollusks, they have open circulatory systems. They are also the first
organisms to have organs specific for excretion, called malpighian tubules.
In terms of evolutionary success, arthropods are the most successful.
There 3x as many arthropod species as there are all other animals combined.
They have segmented bodies, tough exoskeletons, and jointed appendages.
Like annelids, arthropods have have bodies that are divided into segments.
They evolution of arthropods has lead to fewer segments and appendages
for feeding and moving. Also, most arthropods were the first to completely
live on land.

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Brandon Kelly

Compare Ecology of Animals

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