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“Invertebrates & Aquatic Ecosystems
with Scope-On-A-Rope ”Adrienne Lopez
LSU Scope-On-A-Rope Coordinator
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What is an animal?• a multicellular, heterotrophic organism that
develops from an embryo derived from gametes and whose cells lack cell walls (from The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Zoology, 1991, Allaby, ed.)
• encompasses a wide diversity of organisms• children tend to associate the term “animal”
with four-legged land mammals (especially pets)
• it is important for students understand that the term “animal” refers to an entire kingdom in the taxonomy of living things
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Which of these are animals?
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Which of these are animals?
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Which of these are animals?fungus
plant
protist
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eubacteria
archaea
eukarya
Domains of Life Eukaryotic Kingdoms
plants
animals
fungi
protists
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invertebrates
Animal Kingdom Invertebrate Phyla
verts
sponges
coral/ jellies
worms (3)
molluscsechinoderms
arthropods
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Where can I find invertebrates?• In the wild - go to a local pond or coastal area
• Seafood market - live crabs, crawfish, and shrimp are often available
• Pet store - hermit crabs, snails, anemones are cheap and easy to maintain
• Universities - many labs donate organisms they’ve caught when they are done with them
• Catalog - Carolina Biological http://www.carolina.com or Gulf Specimen Marine Supply http://www.gulfspecimen.org
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Investigating Louisiana Pond Life
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Pond Water Collection Tips• Look for signs of life (plants and animals)• Collect water using a ladle or disposable
container, making sure to get some sediment from the bottom
• Use tongs to collect aquatic plants - look for algae and floating or rooted plants
• Don’t leave your container sealed with a lid for long - give your organisms light and air