04/08/23 LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY 1

“Invertebrates & Aquatic Ecosystems

with Scope-On-A-Rope ”Adrienne Lopez

LSU Scope-On-A-Rope Coordinator

04/08/23 LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY 2

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