General Vector Biology Flashcards
- What are the possible medical problems caused by arthropods?
o Annoyance (they bite, are abundant, and small)
o Allergic reactions (stings and bites can cause allergic reactions, or contact allergies, or even respiratory allergies from debris)
o Toxins and venom (bites and stings)
o Invasion of host tissue
o Disease transmission
- What is an example of a medical problem caused by arthropods where the host tissue is invaded?
o One such case is myiasis where the host tissue (stomach, throat, nose, eye) is invaded by fly larvae
- What is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world?
o Malaria. The major demographic affected by malaria are women and children.
o 2.2 billion individuals are at risk for malaria.
- The Zika virus was first isolated in 1947, but it wasn’t until 2016 when an outbreak occurred, why?
o Over the course of evolution, genetic changes resulted in a variation that had increased transmissibility
o In the past, it is hypothesized that zika did appear, but only in small areas and it might have been misclassified
- What is the “perfect storm”?
o As with many viruses, an outbreak is facilitated by global demographic, social and technological changes, urbanization, globalization, and a lack of proper mosquito control in urban areas resulting in an increase in the transmission and spread of viruses through mosquitos as all of the categories align
- Why is Sir Patrick Manson denoted as the “Father of Tropical Medicine”?
o Patrick Manson was the first to demonstrate pathogen transmission by a blood-feeding arthropod. In 1877, he demonstrated that mosquitos can be a vector of filarial worm. Then in 1894, Sir Manson announced the mosquito-malaria hypothesis. This discovery sparked the modern period of medical entomology.
o Patrick Manson is one of the most significant figures in parasitic diseases
- T/F. Patick Manson discovered that malaria is a parasite that is transmitted from arthropod to human.
o False, Patrick Manson just discovered that mosquitos could transmit malaria, but is was Dr. Alphonse Laveran in 1880 who discovered that malaria was caused by a protozoan parasite
- What was the significance of Major Walter Reed’s discovery of the transmission of yellow fever through Ae. Aegypti mosquitos?
o This discovery showed that yellow fever was not transmitted through direct contact and that ae. aegypti is required as a vector for yellow fever
- What is the goal of classification of organisms?
o To arrange living organisms into groups based on their similarities and differences. Classification is based on 8 levels of organization
o Living organisms are placed into specialized groups based on their similarities in structure, origin, molecular composition, etc.
- What differentiates one organisms from another when scientist discuss living organisms?
o Binomial nomenclature, by naming an organism based on its genus and species name using two terms to give a unique name
- What is the key difference between classification and binomial nomenclature?
o Although both help differentiate species, classification is the organization of living organisms based on their similarities and differences, while binomial nomenclature is just the unique naming of the organism.
- What is the hierarchy of biological classification?
o Kingdom
o Phylum
o Class
o Order
o Family
o Genus
o Species
- What does it mean when an organism is classified under the phylum “Arthropoda”?
o Joint foot
- What are the general features of arthropods?
o Exoskeleton
o Jointed appendages (think of this as their elbows)
o Segmented body
o Ventral nerve cord
o Dorsal vessel
o Bilaterally symmetrical (meaning the left half is symmetrical to the right)
- How is the dorsal vessel similar or different from the heart?
o The dorsal vessel is like a blood vessel that is the heart of an insect. This vessel runs dorsally, meaning along the back of the insect. Instead of blood, the insect has hemolymph that circulates through the dorsal vessel, but instead of the primary purpose to carry blood, the hemolymph carries nutrients across the body of the insect.
o The dorsal vessel is the heart equivalent of insects
- What kind of eye do most arthropods have?
o Compound eyes and one to several simple eyes or ocelli
- What is the biological advantage of having compound eyes vs. simple eyes?
o Compound eyes are like many lens that creates a mosaic for the arthropod. This enables arthropods to quickly detect movement.
o Simple eyes are like humans where the eye is just a single lens. Simple eyes focus more on light intensity changes rather than movement
o Structure determines function
- What is the body cavity of most arthropods?
o Hemocoel, meaning an open cavity or a loosely filled space with tissue, sinuses, and blood
o The hemocoel has flowing hemolymph, the circulatory fluid
o The hemocoel functions as a circulatory system
- What is the arthropod equivalent of a spinal cord?
o The ventral nerve cord that takes signals from the brain and transmits it to the rest of the body
- What is the significance of having an open circulatory system that distinguishes the role of the spinal cord from the ventral nerve cord?
o The open circulatory system allows for nutrients to freely pass through the arthropod, allowing the insect to function even when decapitated. Brain input is not required.
- What is the common name for the chilopoda class?
o Centipedes, the name comes from the Greek kheilos lip + pous foot, meaning that the first pair of feet is modified to look like jaws
- What are the common characteristics of the chilopoda class?
o Dorso-ventrally flattened
o Single pair of antennas
o One pair of legs per segment
o Two pairs of maxillae (jaws) on the foot used to hold food for chewing
o Carnivores
o The first segment of the body has a pair of poison claws called maxillipeds
o Females lay eggs in carefully guarded nests
- Chilopoda have a pair of maxillae on the head to hold food and a pair of poison claws (maxilliped). From that information, what can you deduce that chilopoda eat?
o Centipedes are most likely carnivores that will hold food and munch on it. The jaw-like claws provide a clue that some kind of chewing is going on.
- What are Diplopoda class?
o Millipedes. Diploos means double and pous pod- meas foot. Millipedes now have two pairs of legs per body segment.
- What are the characteristics of the Diplopoda class?
o Round body
o Two pairs of legs per segment
o Scavengers or herbivores
o Lack poisonous fangs
o Do not bite
o Discourage predators by rolling into a defensive ball and emit poisonous or foul-smelling substances
o Females lay eggs in carefully guarded nests
- Diplopoda do not have poisonous fangs like the centipedes and they do not bite. From these characteristics, what can you deduce about the diet of Diplopoda?
o Herbivores, no need for chewing and munching on flesh
- What are some key differences between the class Chilopoda and Diplopoda?
o Just like the name entails, millipedes have two pairs of legs per body segment while centipedes only have one
o Centipedes are carnivores that need organs that can chew on other organisms, as well as poison, while millipedes do not have biting fangs and are herbivores.
- What is found in the Arachnida class?
o Ticks, mites, scorpions, spiders
- What are the common characteristics of the Arachnida class?
o Two body regions, a cephalothorax and an abdomen
o No antenna
o Has 4 pairs of walking legs
o A single pair of claws or fangs known as chelicera that often contain venom
o A single pair of pedipalps (small antenna like structures (think fangs on a spider)) used for feeding, sensing, and transferring sperm
o The appendages on the abdomen are either missing or modified
- What is a cephalothorax?
o Fused head and thorax
- What is an example of an appendage on an Arachnida that is modified?
o Spiders have spinnerets instead that spin webs
- Will you find wings on Arachnida?
no
- What will be found in the Insecta class?
o Insects
- What are the common characteristics of the Insecta class?
o The body has three distinct regions, a head, thorax, and abdomen
o A single pair of antennas on the head
o The mouthparts are adapted for different types of feeding
o 0 to 2 pairs of wings
o Thorax has three pairs of legs, and you will not find an appendage for locomotion on the abdomen (butt)
- What is the purpose of the head?
o The head takes in sensory information through organs such as the compound eyes, mouthparts, and the antenna
- What is the purpose of the thorax?
o Movement, through the wings and/or legs
- What is the purpose of the abdomen?
- What is the purpose of the gnathosoma?
o This is the mouth and feeding parts found on mites and ticks
o Therefore, one can deduce that the purpose of the gnathosoma is for feeding and attachment
- What is the purpose of the idosoma?
o This is the area of the mite that contains legs, and what is needed for digestion and reproduction
- What is the general purpose of legs?
o Movement and host location/identification
- How can legs play a role in host identification?
o Some archaea cannot attach to certain hosts because of the way their legs are designed. Think attaching to the feather of birds or the leg hairs of a human
- Why is body shape important in ectoparasites?
o Ectoparasites are parasites that live outside of a host, like a flea. Because the parasite is exposed to so much external environment, shape becomes very important
- What is the purpose of body shape in ectoparasites?
o To facilitate in movement onto the host or to hide in tight spaces
- What are the two types of body shapes on ectoparasites?
o Dorsal-ventrally flattened like bed bugs and ticks
o Laterally flattened like fleas
o Shapes such as these are important in how the parasite interacts with the host
- What is the purpose of wings?
o Wings enable insects to reach a host
- What are the different types of adaptions of mouthparts?
o Mouthparts can be adapted to feeding on fluids such as blood and secretions, or for feeding externally on the skin
o The arthropod mouthparts have different functions depending on the arthropod. Such functions include biting/chewing, siphoning, piercing/sucking, chewing/lapping, and sponging
- What are the morphological adaptions of legs?
o Ectoparasites have specialized legs that will facilitate the attachment to a host and movement on the host or habitat
- What are some examples of morphological adaptions of legs?
o Claws that grasp and cling to a host to prevent the arthropod from easy removal
o Forelegs with enlarged claws that will grasp onto a host as one walks by
o Large hind legs that permit an arthropod to jump long distances between hosts
- What is the purpose of sensory structures on parasitic arthropods?
o For host location and recognition
- Why would different arthropods have different sensory structures? Why not have an arthropod capable of detecting everything?
o Sensory structures are determined by the arthropod and can detect various signals such as motion, vibration, temperature, moisture, CO2, chemical substances, or visual cues
o If an arthropod survives by only detecting one thing, why waste the energy to build everything else?
- What are the primary sensory organs of insects?
o Antennae and eyes
- What happens if a mosquito lost the Johnston’s organ found on the base of the antenna?
o The insect will no longer be able to detect airborne motion as efficiently
- Why do some arthropods exhibit small or no eyes, like in the case of lice or fleas?
o The eyes are not necessary for finding a host. The lack of eyes or eyes that are reduced in size prevent damage to sensitive organs
- What drives external adaptions (wings and legs) such as wings?
o Internal morphology (the structures inside the insect) which allow for the interpretation of the environment
- How does gas exchange in the arthropod occur?
o Like mammals, arthropods need oxygen, but the gas exchange occurs through the trachea with tubes (spiracles) that branch out throughout the body, contacting every organ of the insect that requires oxygen
o Remember, this is an open system of air flowing in
- Why do you only find small insects, never human size ones?
o The tracheal system of the arthropods limits the maximum body to surface area ratio.
o The tracheal system must remain small to allow for gas exchange to occur throughout the body via spiracles
o The branches of the tracheal system must be short to allow for oxygen diffusion
- How does area enter an arthropod?
o Through the trachea via muscle-controlled spiracles located laterally on the body
- What is the circulatory system of insects like, and compare it to humans?
o The circulatory system of insects is an open system that uses what is called the dorsal vessel (similar to the heart) to pump haemolymph (similar to blood) throughout the body of the insect.
o The flow is regular around the body, and is assisted by muscle contractions and peristaltic contractions of the dorsal vessel
o The haemolymph is pumped from the posterior end, circulating freely around the internal organs
- Describe the nervous system of insects.
o The nervous system contains a variety of sensory mechanisms. It is decentralized. The nervous system is also efficient with the main function of collecting information, processing it internally, and responding appropriately
- Compare the neurotransmitters of insect to humans.
o Neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and dopamine are also important in insect function. Think of this when it is used as a target in pesticides
- What are the characteristics of the reproductive morphology in insects?
o High reproductive potential often with short lifecycles
o Capability to store sperm from a single mating
o Parthenogenesis/asexual reproduction
- What is the main function of the female reproductive system?
o Egg production
o Storage of male spermatozoa until the eggs are ready to be fertilized
- What is the main function of the male reproductive system?
o Production and storage of spermatozoa
o Transport of viable spermatozoa to the reproductive tract of females
- T/F. All insects undergo metamorphosis.
o False, metamorphosis just means a change in form during development. If the body structure remains the same, it does not undergo metamorphosis
o Because of this difference, metamorphosis is a basis for classification
- Why do some arthropods undergo metamorphosis, while others don’t?
o Evolution. Metamorphosis allows for an increase in the diversity of food sources and an exploitation of environmental resources at different niches
o Overall, it promotes survival, dispersal, and reproduction.
- What is the opposite of metamorphosis?
o Ametabolous
o Ametabolous is when no metamorphosis occurs just a change in the size of the body
- What is the difference in resource exploitation between arthropods that undergo metamorphosis, and arthropods that undergo ametabolous?
o Arthropods that undergo metamorphosis have a completely different body structure permitting them to exploit different niches and habitats, as well as food sources. Conversely, arthropods that do not undergo metamorphosis (ametabolous) have habitats and food sources that remain relatively the same throughout the lifespan of the arthropod
- When can arthropods that undergo ametabolous reproduce?
o Only in the adult stage
- What are the two ways metamorphosis can occur and what is the difference?
o Hemimetabolous and holometabolous
o Hemimetabolous is a gradual, simple, incomplete metamorphosis. The egg will hatch into a nymph which is just a small version of the adult, and gradually molt into an adult. These stages share similar habitats and food sources. Only adults reproduce here even though the stages look the same.
o In holometabolous, there is a complete metamorphosis, with 4 morphologically distinct stages
- What are the three stages of hemimetabolous?
o Egg, nymph, adult
- What are the four stages of holometabolous?
o Egg, larvae, pupa, adult
- What is the difference in habitats/niches between holometabolous and hemimetabolous?
o Holometabolous has 4 distinct stages of life, permitting it to exploit many different niches/habitats
o Hemimetabolous stages of life primarily remain in the same habitat/niche
- Why is it advantageous to have the development stages exploit different habitats/niches?
o Exploitation of different niches prevent competition for food between the stages
- During holometabolous, why are there different stages? Or what is the difference between the stages?
o The immature stage is for feeding and growth. For example, in the pupal stage massive reorganization and growth occurs. Yet the pupal stage is nonfeeding, just growth.
o Conversely, in the adult stage, the primary goal is for dispersal and reproduction