Worm Blog Post

The earthworm is indigenous to Europe, but now can be found in Western Asia and North America. Earthworms live in moist soil, and don't have lungs or any other respiratory organs so they breathe through pores in their skin. Their skin must stay wet in order for oxygen to permeate their skin. Earthworms eat soil and decaying vegetation. A fun fact is that they have both male and female reproductive organs and reproduce by joining their clitellums together. Then they make a cocoon which holds the fertilized eggs together until they hatch.

Here is a link that full describes the dissection process:

http://youtu.be/m5P7s30NjxE




Sources:

 http://crescentok.com/staff/jaskew/isr/biology/biolab31b.htm

Frog Dissection Guide

The frog is found all over the world, but there are over 4,800 recorded species. Unlike most animals, the frog can breathe while submerged in water well as not submerged in water. When the frog is submerged the oxygen directly diffuses into the blood, but when they are not submerged in water it goes through as process called the Buccal Pumping. This Pumping system, pushes air through the throat and and breathes air through the nostrils. To eat, the frog uses their cleft tongue, instead of using hands or legs, to grab their prey. After they catch their prey, they use their eyes to help swallow their food and then down it goes down into their stomach. Generally it tends to eat many different types of insects. An interesting fact is that in Europe they tend to associate frogs with witchcraft while the Moche people of Peru believe that seeing a frog was good luck.

Here is a video that will help describe the dissection process of the frog:

http://youtu.be/L_OOOpvJbpg



Sources:

http://www.biologycorner.com/bio2/notes-frog.htmlthe frog

Grasshopper Dissection Blog

The grasshopper is a descendant of the cricket and there are over 11,000 species throughout the world of grasshoppers. Most grasshoppers are carnivores, but on occasion eat animal tissue and feces. In order for a grasshopper to eat, it uses its mandibles to chew its food and from there the salivary glands break down any carbohydrates. Eventually from there it goes through the oesophagus, the gizzards, and then finally the stomach where lots of enzymes begin to break things down. In order for the grasshopper to breathe they have an open circulatory system and their body cavities are filled with something called haemolymph which pumps fluid through the head and abdomen. For most grasshoppers that are bigger in size, they must keep moving in order to ventilate their bodies and help their abdominal muscles contract so they can breathe. An interesting fact is that if one has a grasshopper appear in a dream, some believe it is a sign of independence or a fear of "settling down". 

Here is a detailed description of how to dissect a grasshopper: 

http://youtu.be/SuGd0bb1vbM



Sources:

http://www.bio.davidson.edu/courses/entomology/lab/internal.pdf

 

Crayfish Dissection Lab

The crayfish is known for living in freshwater areas, but are found in both the Southern and Northern Hemisphere. There are also many different species of crayfish throughout the world. When it comes to a crayfish's anatomy, they are very similar to a small lobster. The crayfish tend to breathe through their water-like gills, and they can survive both in and out of water for several days.  In order to eat, the crayfish use their claws to grab onto prey and then eat it with their mouth's. Usually crayfish tend to eat shrimp, water plants, insects, snails, and plankton. Crayfish are also known for being an Invasive species and also are consumed very often by people. 

Here is a lovely video describing the dissection of a crayfish:

http://youtu.be/Os97ICBrmHc

Sources:
http://www2.sluh.org/bioweb/fieldbio/labsheets/invertebrateorganfunctions.pdf

http://www.johnston.k12.ia.us/schools/lawson/gradelevellinks/crayfish/craydiet.html

Fish Dissection Blog

The Perch fish is found in Asia, Europe, Australia, and the United States and tends to live in small lakes, ponds, or rivers. Although it is found all over the world it is most commonly found in the Great Lakes in the U.S. In order to help this fish breathe, it has gills plus a lateral line system that helps detect vibrations in the water. Generally the perch eats shellfish, insect eggs, or other small fish that live in their habitat. An interesting fact about this fish is that there is a specific technique when one catches a perch, because it is commonly known for sallowing the hook. 

Here is a fantastic video describing the dissection of a Perch:

http://youtu.be/4dh3oWZIRCw


Sources: 
http://www.carolina.com/pdf/activities-articles/anatomy-perch.pdf

Starfish Dissection

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There's are over 1,500 different species of starfish that live from anywhere from near the top of the ocean to the abyssal depths of the ocean. To help the starfish breathe, it has what is called the Hydraulic System which helps with gas exchange as well as moving and eating. This system is a series of canals that help transport different chemicals into the feet and lateral canals. In order to eat, the starfish takes in food from its mouth in the central disc and is moved into its gut (located towards the extends of the arms). From there it travels into many different tubes and canals and eventually the starfish will secret digestive enzymes which will absorb nutrients from the food. Generally the starfish tends to eat small fish, clams, oysters, and anthropods. The reason the starfish can eat animals that are larger then them Is because they are able to digest food outside their body. An interesting fact is that a starfish can produce both sexually and asexually and the oldest starfish was about 34 years old.

Here is a terrific video describing the dissection of a starfish (first link, ignore second link):

http://youtu.be/cEvXGt-r_DE

http://youtu.beSources: 

http://www.carolina.com/pdf/activities-articles/anatomy-starfish.pdf

 

Clam Dissection Blog

The clam is known to be found in both marine and freshwater habitats and each clam varies in both size and age. To breathe the clam uses gills located in the bivalve mantle cavity, and there is an open blood circulation system as well. This bivalve mantle cavity also helps a lot with with nutriention as well. To eat the clam collects food with their tentacles and then from their is transported to the mouth where it is filtered into respiration water. Generally clams like to eat larvae, detritus, eggs, and Protozoa. A fun fact about clams, is that for reproduction, both fertilization and larvae development happen in free water, rather than the clam itself. 

Here is a video describing the dissection of a clam:

http://youtu.be/Ebxhm6hA8io





Sources:

http://www.molluscs.at/bivalvia/

http://academic.evergreen.edu/t/thuesene/bivalves/Biology.htm