Introductory List to Local Marine Animals During your visit to the Huntsman you will have the opportunity to see and investigate many different types of marine animals, especially invertebrates. Below is an introductory list to some of the animals you will encounter. Use the poster to give an example of a Bay of Fundy animal that represents each group. Phylum Arthropoda all have jointed legs and a hard exoskeleton. They make up almost three quarters of all living species. Local marine arthropods include crabs, lobster, shrimp and barnacles. An example of an arthropod: Sponges (Phylum Porifera) are the most primitive of animals, which lack any true organs or organ systems. They first appeared more than 570 million years ago and have changed little since then! An example of a porifera: Jellyfish, anemones and corals (Phylum Cnidaria) share the common characteristic of having stinging cells in their tentacles. These cells are for defence and to capture prey. An example of a cnidaria: Seastars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and sand dollars belong to the exclusively saltwater Phylum Echinodermata. All have spiny-skin and move using structures called tube feet. An example of an echinoderm: Animals with soft-bodied (Phylum Mollusca) and hard protective shells are some of the most common marine species in the Bay of Fundy. Members of this group are extremely diverse in external appearance and include gastropods (snail-like animals), bivalves (two shells i.e. clam), and cephalopods (squid and octopus). An example of a mollusc: COURSE WORKBOOK
Why do I have a long Latin name that I can t pronounce and have a hard time spelling? Because.. The Linnaeus system has seven main levels. 1. Kingdom At the top the characteristics are very broad and as 2. Phylum one descends through the next six levels 3. Class the characteristics become more and 4. Order more specific, until you identify 5. Family a species which is like 6. Genus nothing else in 7. Species the world. Classification of an Northern Lobster Kingdom: Animalia animals Phylum: Arthropoda arthropods Class: Malacostraca crustaceans Order: Decapoda crabs, shrimps Family: Nephropidae clawed lobster Genus: Homarus Species: Homarus americanus All animals, big, small, invertebrate and vertebrate The one, the only King of Crustacea the Northern Lobster. COURSE WORKBOOK 2
Exercise #2 Classifying local marine invertebrates Choose three very different invertebrates. Draw each animal, to the best of your ability, and concentrate on detail. Use the field guides to identify the Genus, species and English name of each animal. Describe your animal using the eight characteristics and record any behaviour observations you make. Eight Characteristics: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Kingdom: 7. 8. Drawing #1 - Non-Arthropod English name: Genus: species: Description: COURSE WORKBOOK 3
Drawing #2 - Arthropod English name: Acadian Hermit Crab Genus: species: Description: Drawing #3 - Arthropod English name: Green Crab Genus: species: Description: COURSE WORKBOOK 4
Right-side UP! Echinoderms need to be Right-side UP. Echinoderms live on the ocean floor moving slowly along by means of their tube feet, as they search for food. These suction-cup equipped appendages are mostly located on the underside or oral side on the animal. Occasionally an animal gets flipped over. The animal is vulnerable lying upside down with its soft mouth parts exposed, and the waving of its delicate tube feet could attract predators. The faster an animal can get turned over and right-side UP, with its protective spines doing their defensive job, the better the animals chance of survival. Echinoderms do not have a brain; therefore, they do not think about the best way to turn back over. The Right-side UP process is automatic, but what factors influence how quickly an echinoderm, like a seastar or sea urchin, can right itself? 1. 2. 3. Here at the Huntsman we have been testing size. Our theory is that the larger the seastar (or sea urchin) the longer it takes to turn Right-side UP. How much data do we need to collect? How many trials do we need to conduct? What equipment do we need? - glass bowl - - watch or clock - As this is a behaviour experiment, we, as a group, must decide on a standardized procedure so we can pool our class results. We want to compare apples and apples; not apples and oranges. Setting some standards..decision time!!!! How much water in the bowl? What is the starting spot? Can I poke the animal? Is coaching allowed? COURSE WORKBOOK 5
Right-side UP - Data Chart No. Species Size - diameter Trial #1 (seconds #1 Common Seastar Trial #2 Average #1 Behaviour Observations trial #1 #1 Behaviour Observations trial #2 Did the animal use the same technique? Yes No Species Size - diameter Trial #1 #2 Green Sea Urchin Trial #2 Average #2 Behaviour Observations trial #1 #2 Behaviour Observations trial #2 Did the animal use the same technique? Yes No COURSE WORKBOOK 6
Right-side UP Class Results Common Seastar Green Sea Urchin Size - cm Time -seconds Size - cm Time - seconds To be completed back at school. Title Graph your class results x-axis size (cm) y-axis time Time 0 Size (cm) COURSE WORKBOOK 7