Introduction & Diversity Flashcards
What is the largest invertebrate phylum?
Arthropoda
What percent of animal species are invertebrate?
~95%
Diversity gradient
Change of composition, diversity and interactions as you move through an ecosystem.
4 significant statements about animals without backbones
- 90% of animal diversity is backbone less,~1.7million but likely much more at 5-30 million
- oldest animals are backbone less
- most resilient and arguably most beautiful
- diversity significantly affects humans (health, food, economy…)
6 biodiversity values of invertebrates
- ecosystem services
- food
- bio indicators
- pharmaceuticals
- esthetics
- right to exist
Bio indicators
Measuring tool for impacts on Envr and biological responses
- sea urchin embryos affected by toxicity of mining effluent
Examples of ecosystem services
- pollination
- waste management
- quality of water, air and soil
Pharmaceutical capabilities
Potential to use invertebrate antibiotic capabilities.
- ownership associated with discovery
Units of biodiversity
Species, genus, family, order etc.
- species is lowest common denominator b/c cannot breed outside of species and produce viable offspring
4 characteristics for classification
- morphological
- physiological mechanisms
- developmental stages & larval forms
- molecular similarity, DNA
What are 4 major distinguishing characteristics for classification?
- cells and tissue level of organization
- symmetry, radial or bilateral
- blastula development, protostome or deuterostome
- coelom, eu, pseudo or absent
What is a taxonomic key? Name 2 types.
- Organizes animals based on selected morphological distinguishing characteristics. Must know terminology, geographic regions, and confirm with multiple sources/ images.
- Dichotomous and Tabular
Dichotomous Key
A taxonomic key that has 2 characteristics (or group of characteristics) per decision
Tabular Key
A multivariate taxonomic key that has several options at once
What key evolutionary characteristics evolved once?
- Entero vs. Schizocoelae
- Bilaterality
- Proto vs. Deuterostomy
- Trochophore larva
- Moulting