ecdysozoans; arthropods Flashcards
major roles of arthropods
- food chains; predation, prey, parasites, symbionts
- pollinators
- decomposers, scavengers
major factors in the success of arthropods
- diverse
- adaptable body plan
- ability to thrive in range of environments
- body segmented; linear blocks allowing greater control of body regions and specialization of regions
- segments fused allowing even greater control of body regions and specialization (head, thorax, abdomen)
- exoskeleton w jointed appendages
tagmatization/ tagmosis
- fusion of segments to produce super-segments; tagmata
allowed specialization of body from and function and specialization of appendages; allowed evolution from worm-like organisms
arthropod features
- exoskeleton
- segmentation
- tagmata
- appendages
- respiratory structures
- circulatory system
types of tagmata combinations
- head, thorax, abdomen
- head, trunk
- cephalothorax, absomen
appendages
- tool for every purpose (mobility, sensing, feeding, reproduction)
respiratory structures
gills, spiracles tracheae, book lungs
circulatory system
- open (haemocoel)
- ventral nervous system
- complex excretory system
- sexual reproduction
ecdysis
shedding exoskeleton
exoskeleton made of
protein and chitin
exoskeleton function
- physical, physiological protection, muscle attachment, supports body
- but must moult to grow
- temporary vulnerability and energetically expensive
2 living groups of arthropods based on mouthpart organization
- chelicerates: chelicerae for grasping, often fang-like or pincers
- mandibulates; mandibles; for chewing
chelicerates body
- simple body; cephalothorax and abdomen
chelicerates mouthparts
- chelicerae; paired feeding appendages modified into fangs (spiders) or pincers
- pedipalps; aka palps, feeding or sensory
do chelicerates have antennae
no true antennae
chelicerates eyes
up to 8 single lens eyes
how many legs do chelicerates have
8 legs (4 pairs)
what are 4 examples of arachnids (chelicerates)
spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites
mouthparts of a tick (arachnid, chelicerae)
- Developed secondary structure the hypostome (looks like xmas tree in middle of chelicerae) locks in place and is like a sucking straw
- Spikes on chelicerae are pedipalps (aka palps)
mouth parts of a spider
(arachnid, chelicerae)
- Chelicerae bear fangs and teeth; teeth along inner margin
- Saliva has venom and digestive enzymes
ticks (acarines)
arachnids, chelicerae, arthropods, ecysozoans
- external parasites of mammals, birds and reptiles
how many hosts do ticks have
arachnids, chelicerae, arthropods, ecysozoans
1, 2 or 3
what do ticks eat and how big can they get
arachnids, chelicerae, arthropods, ecysozoans
- heavy blood feeders; female ticks engorge; body size increases up to 100x
what assists in tick feeding
arachnids, chelicerae, arthropods, ecysozoans
- saliva
- secrete neurotoxins
- therefore ticks can act as vectors of disease causing microorganisms
effects of ticks
arachnids, chelicerae, arthropods, ecysozoans
- spread disease causing micro-organisms as vectors
- blood loss
- skin damage
cattle tick lifecycle
arachnids, chelicerae, arthropods, ecysozoans
- rhipicephalus (boophilus australis)
- Engorged female drops of host and lays around 300 eggs into environment and dies
- Eggs develop; up to 2 months in summers, up to 7 months in winter
- Larva quest; climb up grass, front legs up waiting for bovine to walk past, wave legs to try and catch on hair
- Sit around shoulder/ neck region
- Will molt on host → nymph, molt again → adult
why is it so hard to remove a feeding tick
arachnids, chelicerae, arthropods, ecysozoans
- slicing chelicerae
- denticulate toothed hypostome and also adhesive cement in some species
- backwards facing spikes
mites
arachnids, chelicerae, arthropods, ecysozoans
- like tiny ticks
- most free living
- ectoparasitic species
are most mites parasitic
arachnids, chelicerae, arthropods, ecysozoans
no, most free living
major example of mites
- the scabies mite
- live and burrows on skin
- egg to adult on one host and transmission predominantly by contact
- cause mange; condition associated w severe dermatitis
- mange characterized by hair loss, scabs, keratinized skin w mites found in skin scraping
what do the mandibulates include
insecta (hexapoda)
mandibulates
- vast majority of species
- all environments
- many forms
mandibulates, insecta (hexapoda) what kind is the most abundant
beetles