Week 8: Animal diversity Biol 152

To complete, Reminder: Fall break is Monday and Tuesday! As a result:

• There will be no TA sessions in week 8 (Tuesday nor Wednesday).
Oct 14 – 20: • You do not need to submit a worksheet for this module, but you
do need to do the module before class!
I. Reading: Ch 34.
If you would like more help outside of class this week, remember my
II. Module. Finish (Dr. Archibald’s) drop-in hours and SI sessions! See Canvas Home.
by end of
Wednesday.
Optional: Critter of the Reminder: Achieve also has
III. Class meeting. Thursday. week! Singing reef fish? optional study materials that
This NPR article talks may help you in Biol 152,
IV. Quiz. Thursday to Sunday.
about a group of such as skills primers, visual
V. Team review A. Available animals: fish (all are synthesis maps and learning
Thursday (12:00 am) to Sunday chordates) that live near curves. There is a lot of good
(11:59 pm) in this week’s coral reefs (made up information, although some
folder in Canvas. This gives you primarily of cnidarians). goes into more detail than
an opportunity to comment on It includes audio clips of what we learn for this course.
how your group is functioning previously hidden You may find it useful as a
and consider ways to get more noises the fish are resource in some of your
from group work. making that may be future courses as well.
vital for maintaining Remember you can download
Learning objectives coral reef health. the ebook and continue to
access it for four years.
After this week you should be able to:
• Name and identify major phyla of animals (7 groups covered).
• Draw and interpret the phylogenetic relationships among those phyla.
• Identify and name major animal clades (that is, groups of phyla).
• Map the evolution of key traits on the phylogenies to illustrate their timing of evolution.
• Demonstrate the importance of some major evolutionary transitions in relation to the
abilities and diversity of animals.

Animal diversity
You don’t need to be able to read the text in this
phylogeny of animal phyla to the right, but it highlights
in orange the seven larger phyla that we cover:
Porifera, Cnidaria, Mollusca, Annelida, Arthropoda, Chordata, and Echinodermata. Note how
much else is out there! There are many more types of animals than most people realize. If you
want to know more, consider taking Biol 413.

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Relationships and synapomorphies for animal clades
Practice question 1. Try filling out the phylogeny below. Write taxon names and traits in
the boxes and circles, respectively.

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Annelida

CHARACTERS:
1. Paired, jointed appendages GROUPS:
2. Blastula Annelida (earthworms, leeches, etc.)
3. Notochord Arthropoda (insects, crustaceans, etc.)
4. Bilateral symmetry Chordata (tunicates, fishes, etc.)
5. Gastrula pore becomes anus Cnidaria (jellyfish, corals, sea anemones)
6. Gastrula pore becomes mouth Echinodermata (sea stars, etc.)
7. Nerve cells Mollusca (snails, squids, etc.)
Porifera (sponges)

Porifera (sponges) Flagellated Water flow

Sponges
Sponges cells draw
To watch: Shape of Life: Sponge water into the Flagellated
cavity and cell
feeding. (5:22) Filter feeders ingest food. {Choanocyte}

• Sponges have specialized cells but only Pore

a few cell types and no tissues. They
also are unusual among animals in
having totipotent cells throughout life!
• Flagellated cells {choanocytes} {Curly brackets indicate terms
coordinate to pump water through the you do not need to memorize}
body. Sponge cells engulf particles
Fig. 42.2
from the water, using phagocytosis.
• A network of tiny spikes (spicules) provides structural support. Some spicules {of silica
or calcium carbonate} are rigid; other sponges have a flexible protein skeleton.
• The flagellated cells start on the outside of the larva, allowing them to swim! They even
respond to light and gravity when finding a spot to settle, and then migrate within the
developing sponge body to the inside of the sponge.

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Eumetazoa: everything except for sponges {Choanocytes are similar to
choanoflagellates, the protist that
To watch: Lecture video: The non-sponge animals. is sister to animals. The suffix “-
(3:58) cyte” refers to a cell, so this name
means choanoflagellate-like cell}
Practice question 2. Sponges have which of the following traits?
A) Muscles C) Tissues E) None of the above
B) Nerves D) Mobile adults

Cnidaria (sea jellies, sea anemones,

and corals)
To watch: MooMoo: Cnidaria (3:26).
(The audio cuts out a little, but the Cnidarian
captions cover it.) Sea jellies seem peaceful, cnidocytes
but they have unique harpoons! They are also
called jellyfish, but they are not true fish.
• Their tentacles have cnidocytes:
stinging cells that tangle up or inject
Sea jelly
toxin into prey or predators. They can
be painful and deadly to humans!
• Cnidarians only have two germ layers Gastric cavity
(ectoderm and endoderm). Mouth
• Their digestive cavity has just one Tentacle
opening that serves as both mouth and
anus. It is not the most efficient
system, but works well enough for their Sea anemone
circumstances and allows ingesting Tentacle
larger food than phagocytosis. Mouth
• Sea jellies swim or float, while most sea Gastric cavity
anemones and corals are attached as
adults. The basic body plan is similar,
just flipped. Coral reefs have re-shaped
the world (by creating land with their accumulated Digestive cavities start
skeletons) and shaped the evolutionary history of many as a pore and then an
marine phyla! {They house 25% of all marine life despite infolding of the blastula
being <1% of marine surface area.} when it changes into a
gastrula.
Practice question 3. How many ways can you cut a
cnidarian into equal halves?
A) None (asymmetrical) C) Twice (two planes)
B) Once (one plane of symmetry) D) Many times

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 Bilaterian development
The Bilateral clade (Bilateria)
Bilatarians have (at least) TWO holes
The remaining animals have bilateral
symmetry for at least part of their life The first forms in the .
: mouth or anus.
cycles.
Zygote Blastula Gastrula
To watch: Animation: Radial and
Bilateral Symmetry (1:01)

Practice question 4. Which of the Ectoderm pore

Bilaterians have 3
following is TRUE regarding body Mesoderm
germ layers
Fig. 33.5 Endoderm
symmetry in animals?
A) Radial symmetry allows an animal to capture food from many directions at once.
B) Radial symmetry allows for the development of a head at the front end of the body,
including sensory organs.
C) Bilateral symmetry is characteristic of sea anemones.
D) Most animals have radial symmetry.
E) All these options are true.

Another synapomorphy for the Bilaterians is having

three germ layers. These embryonic layers together
develop into true organs and organ systems.
Bilaterians also have digestive systems with two
Bilateria
holes! Mouth and anus are separate, and I am pretty
sure we all approve of this feature. Bilaterians
(including you) are basically a tube. Food goes in one end and waste comes out the other. One-
way movement allows specialization of parts of the digestive system to best obtain nutrients.
All these adaptations allowed bilaterians to thrive and diversify. In this phylogeny, note how
many more branches there are in the bilaterian clade (in orange) compared to other animals.

Protostomes vs. Deuterostomes

Bilaterians are divided into two clades: the protostomes (“mouth first”) and the deuterostomes
Indicate the base of the clade in which the
(“mouth second”), referring to the fate of the gastrula pore. This in
first pore trait
thehas remained
embryo very
becomes thestable
mouth
in the deuterostomes, although variation has evolved over time in the protostomes. For the
next question, see if you remember how these Porifera
phyla are split based on the textbook reading. A Cnidaria

D Mollusca
Practice question 5. Indicate the base of the B Annelida
clade in which the first pore in the embryo Arthropoda
becomes the mouth.
C Chordata

Echinodermata

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Arthropoda (insects, arachnids, crustaceans, etc.)
To watch: Arthropods (2:35). (You do not need to memorize details of the circulatory
system for this lesson, nor the names of the
subphyla, except crustaceans. You should know
examples from each subphylum).
• An exoskeleton of chitin supports and
protects but also requires molting for growth.
This layer was critical for slowing water loss
when arthropods moved from sea to land.
• Paired, jointed, appendages. Arthropoda
means “jointed feet.” These appendages Monarch caterpillar with molted exoskeleton
Sid Mosdell CC BY 2.0

have been modified in different species for

many functions, such as weapons and wings.
• Metamorphosis: two main types Young praying mantis
nosha CC BY-SA 2.0

o Partial metamorphosis: young are similar to the adults

(e.g., praying mantis, grasshoppers).
o Complete metamorphosis: developmental stages are
drastically different (e.g., butterflies, flies, beetles).
• Most insects are terrestrial, and most crustaceans are aquatic, but there are exceptions.

Practice question 6. List at least 10 arthropods and describe at least three positive
impacts of arthropods. Relative eukaryote diversity

This figure scales each group relative to its Plants

Insects
number of species. The blue circles indicate
arthropods. They dominate all other animals Mammals
in terms of numbers of species, with the Fungi
insects being particularly diverse.

Practice question 7. Why are insects so Other arthropods

diverse? http://yourwildlife.org/2016/09/updating-the-species-scape/

A terrestrial crustacean Arachnids include spiders and allies

JKA JKA {To the far left is a
relative of roly polies (aka
crunchybats); they are
terrestrial, but breathe
with gills! The right spider
is a brown recluse. These
are common in Lawrence
and should be avoided
due to their potentially
dangerous venom.}

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 Practice question 8. Arthropods include _____.
A) insects, which are all aquatic
B) crustaceans, which include crabs and shrimp
C) centipedes, which have just one body segment
D) spiders, which have jointed appendages that are modified into wings.
E) All these options are correct.

Annelida (segmented worms)

Annelids include earthworms, but also blood-feeding leeches and marine worms. All species
have segmented bodies. Some filter feed; some build tubes; many dig and move using a
combination of circular and longitudinal muscles. They are known as worms, but “worm” is like
“tree,” it encompasses many unrelated groups from multiple phyla.

To watch: The Shape of Life: Annelids (required up to 3:12, but if you stop there, you will
miss some great worm-related footage)

Practice question 9. Which of the following is TRUE of annelids?

A) All annelids are terrestrial.
B) All worms are placed together in the Annelid phylum.
C) All segmented worms feed on larger animals.
D) All annelids have a digestive system with a mouth and anus.
E) All these options are true.

Mollusca (octopuses, snails, clams, etc.)

The different molluscs are just SO DIFFERENT from each other. Molluscs include scallops, slugs,
squids, and others! You don’t need to memorize everything in the video. Pay particular
attention to these key traits and be sure you are familiar with the major types of molluscs.
• Radula: specialized scraping tongue.
• Foot: muscular organ, often modified for movement.
• Mantle: thin layer of tissue that secretes shell (when shell is present) and plays a role in
breathing/excretion.

To watch: The Shape of Life: Molluscs (15:08)

Practice question 10. Some species of molluscs survive by _____.

A) hiding within a hard shell
B) changing the color of their skin to camouflage themselves
C) swimming or gliding away from predators
D) using a chainsaw-like structure to tear at food
E) All these options are correct.

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Echinodermata (sea stars, sea urchins, etc.)
Echinoderms often appear radially symmetric as adults, but their bilateral heritage is visible in
their larvae. This phylum and the chordates are both deuterostomes. Again, you do not have to
memorize everything from this video. Some things to focus on: Feather star
• Many move using hydraulic tube feet, powered by dachalan CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

movement of water.
• Most have reverted to radial symmetry as adults.

To watch: The Shape of Life: Echinoderms (3:52)

Practice question 11. Which of the following is TRUE

regarding animal digestion?
A) The first pore in an echinoderm gastrula becomes the mouth.
B) Poriferans have a digestive cavity into which they secrete digestive enzymes.
C) Mollusks primarily use external digestion to gain nutrition.
D) Cnidarians have a tube-like digestive system. Different segments of the system are
specialized to process food in various ways. Chordata – all have notochord
E) Annelids include multiple species of filter feeders as well as(atother
some stage)of nutrition.
modes
Notochord: Vertebrae in vertebrates
Chordata Stiff rod of collagen (notochord only in
and other proteins embryos for vertebrates)
All chordates have a notochord (at some
stage of life). This is a stiff rod of collagen and
other proteins, which provides resistance for
muscles to work against. It is replaced by
vertebrae in adult vertebrates, which is the
most diverse clade in this phylum (but not the Even in tunicates Fig. 42.25, 42.24
ONLY clade!). You do NOT need to memorize
the vertebrate relationships or groups, Evolution of Jaws
Vertebrates
beyond what we explicitly discuss, but note
Jawless Fishes
from this phylogeny that chordates include
Cartilaginous Fishes
many familiar animals.
Ray-Finned Fishes Fishes
Coelacanths
Practice question 12. Which of these Lungfishes
groups are monophyletic in this Amphibians
phylogeny: Fishes, Tetrapods, and/or Reptiles Mammals
(Turtles, Squamates, and Crocodiles)? Turtles
Tet rapods
Do not need to Squamates (lizards)
(4 limbs)
Ray-finned fishes are diverse, ranging in size memorize this Crocodiles
phylogeny!
from 3 mm to many meters, with fins Birds

supported by many thin bones. In contrast, the fins of lobe-finned fishes have a muscular bony
stalk that, in one subclade, evolved into the limbs of tetrapods. Tetrapod means “four limbs.”

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 In what order did these traits evolve?
Practice question 13. In what order did Jawless Fishes
these traits evolve in this phylogeny of
1 Cartilaginous Fishes
vertebrates? One other piece of information,
beyond the informative names of some of these 2 Ray-Finned Fishes
taxa: both ray-finned and lobe-finned fishes have 3
Lobe-Finned Fishes
skeletons made of bones, rather than the softer
A. Jaws = 1, Vertebrae = 2, Bones = 3
cartilage skeletons in sharks and rays. B. Bones = 1, Jaws = 2, Vertebrae = 3
C. Vertebrae = 1, Jaws = 2, Bones = 3
Muscles and skeletons across animals D.
E.
Vertebrae = 1, Bones = 2, Jaws =
Jaws = 1, Bones = 2, Vertebrae =
3
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How do muscles and skeletons differ across these phyla?

To watch: Lecture video: Muscles and skeletons. (8:07)

Answers to practice questions.

1. Like last week: after filling out as much as you can, continue in the module and fill remaining
blanks before class. We will post another practice phylogeny and the keys in the Q&A board.

2. E is correct. Spongebob is a lie! Sponges are very simple animals, and they lack some
features that are widespread among the other animals. However, they are sister to the rest
of the animals that we discuss. They have other characteristic traits of animals, such as
being chemoheterotrophic eukaryotes with complex multicellularity, using collagen as a
major structural protein, lacking cell walls, and being mobile at some stage (larvae).

3. Cnidarians have multiple planes of symmetry and so are radially symmetric. Most other
animals have bilateral symmetry. D is correct.

4. A is correct, while B, C, and D would be true if you replaced Radial with Bilateral and vice
versa. Both types of symmetry can have advantages in certain circumstances, but the
greater ability for directional movement and specialization of sensory organs may be
partially responsible for the greater diversity and success of Bilateria compared to other
clades of animals.

5. B is correct. Molluscs, Annelids, and Arthropods are all protostomes.

6. There are over a million species of arthropods! Examples from each subphylum: crustaceans
(crabs, lobsters), millipedes and centipedes, spiders and friends (ticks, scorpions), and insects
(so many insects!). There are many positive impacts. Most pollinators are insects, vital for
reproduction of many plants. Some insects are pests, but other insects EAT pests. Many
people eat crustaceans, and a variety of insects can be a good source of nutrition. We use
insect products (like silk and honey) and insects help break down material for
decomposition. Also, some people just find arthropods enriching to have around!

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7. What increased speciation or decreased extinction in insects?
• Small body size. As an organism gets smaller, the environment often becomes more
heterogeneous. That enables diversification because there are more ways for different
populations to specialize without competing. Smaller bodies also take less energy.
• Short generation times can lead to faster evolutionary adaptation.
• Wings (in many insects) aid in escaping, catching prey, finding resources, and dispersing.
• Complete metamorphosis (in many insects) results in juvenile and adult stages that are
so different that they no longer compete for resources.
• Coevolution with flowering plants has resulted in diversification of both groups!

8. B is correct. All those groups are types of arthropods, but the other traits are not all correct.
Insects are sometimes aquatic and sometimes terrestrial; the majority of insect species are
terrestrial. Crustaceans are mostly aquatic and even the terrestrial species breathe with gills.
Centipedes have many body segments, insects and spiders have just a few. Finally, and
thankfully, spiders cannot fly! They do have jointed appendages, like all arthropods.

9. D is correct. Annelids include earthworms, freshwater leeches, and marine bristleworms and
featherduster worms. Many are skilled burrowers; some feed on organic material in the
substrate; some hide underground except when gathering food particles. All have a
segmented body with a digestive system that runs like a tube from the front end to the back
(mouth to anus). Although all annelids are worms, not all worms are annelids! There are
multiple other animal phyla that include animals with a worm-like (tube-like) body.

10. E is correct. Molluscs have evolved diverse methods of survival, including species known for
their slow pace (snails) and species that can jet away at high speeds (squids). Using the
chainsaw-like radula, some species (like chitons) quietly scrape algae off rocks for food,
whereas others use the radula to cut through shells. The muscular foot has been modified to
anchor, move, or help feed the organism in different species.

11. E is correct. Annelids include some species that are filter feeders, and they also include
things like earthworms and bristleworms that are scavengers for decaying matter. For A:
Echinoderms are deuterostomes like us (anus first). For B: Poriferans have no digestive
cavity; they use intracellular digestion. For C. Mollusks (like most animals) use internal
digestion. For D: Cnidarians have a sac-like digestive system with only one opening.

12. Only tetrapods are monophyletic! A reptile clade would include birds. A fish clade would
include all vertebrates because tetrapods are in the lobe-fined fishes clade.

13. The correct answer is C. Everything in this phylogeny is a vertebrate, and they all have
vertebrae (1). Based on the name of the Jawless fish, you should be able to determine that
jaws did not evolve until node 2. That leaves bones, which evolved in the common ancestor
of ray-finned and lobe-finned fishes, after the jawless and cartilaginous fishes had
separated.