“Invertebrates & Aquatic Ecosystems with Scope-On-A-Rope ”

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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)
molluscs
echinoderms
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