LIFE SCIENCES/ BIODIVERSITY OF ANIMALS

OR TAMBO COASTAL DISTRICT

LIFE SCIENCES
GRADE 11
LEARNER`S CONTENT MANUAL [LCM]
FEBRUARY 2025
TERM: ONE
BIODIVERSITY OF ANIMALS
Compiled By MR NKANZELA .O Sciences Educator ECDoE

CHAPTER 3: BIODIVERSITY OF ANIMALS

Introduction

Key terminology
a diagram showing the evolutionary relationships between
phylogenetic tree
ancestral groups or organisms and their descendants
phylum a taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class
biologists that identify and group organisms according to their
taxonomist
characteristics

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth. There are approximately 1,5 million
recorded animal species on Earth. Animals are sorted according to their similarities
and differences (Figure 1). All animals belong to the Kingdom Animalia. This
kingdom is further divided into phyla (singular: phylum) which are based on
differences in their basic body plan.
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Porifera Cnidaria Platyhelminthes Annelida Arthropoda Chordata

sponges jellyfsh flatwomss eamthwomss insects sassals

segsentatonn two gut

openingsn coelosate

tmiploblastcn bilatemaln cephalisaton

one gut openingn foms tssue layems

no tssue layems

unicellular protista

Figure 1: Phylogenetic tree of Kingdom Animalia, showing divisions into phyla

Introduction to animal biodiversity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvrs9jA3SP0

Key features of body plans

A body plan is structural characteristics of an organism that separates it from other

organisms or groups of organisms. Important features of body plans include:
• body symmetry and cephalisation
• tissue layers
• number of gut openings
• the presence of a body cavity

Key terminology
the presence of a definite head that contains sense organs in
cephalisation
animals; first seen in the phylum Platyhelminthes
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organisms that are immobile and attached to one place for life,
sessile
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e.g. sponges and barnacles

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gut portions of the alimentary canal

Body plans & associated phyla: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMBpaV2dScM

Body symmetry and cephalisation

An organism is symmetrical when it can be cut into two equal and identical halves
through one or more plane. Multicellular organisms can be asymmetrical, radially
symmetrical or bilaterally symmetrical.
Animals that have bilateral symmetry are usually more advanced and have
cephalisation. Cephalisation is when most of the sense organs, feeding
appendages and the brain are near the anterior part of the body, as shown in Figure
4.
Animals with bilateral symmetry are usually active and are constantly moving around
in search of food, mates and interacting with their environments.

The table below provides illustrations of the three types of symmetry.

Type of symmetry Description Example

asymmetry  no symmetry, i.e. they
e.g.: amoeba, cannot be divided into
sponges two equal halves
(Figure 2)

Figure 2: asymmetrical – sponge

radial symmetry
e.g.: Cnidaria • body plan can be
cut through more than
one plane to obtain
two equal halves
(Figure 3)
• usually sessile or
are able to move
around
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only a little

Figure 3: a radially symmetrical

animal – sea anemone
bilateral symmetry • body plan can be
e.g. all other phyla divided into two equal
halves in only one
except Porifera and
plane. i.e. they have a
Cnidaria left side and a right
side that are identical
• cannot be divided
into an equal anterior
(front) and posterior
(back) end, as shown
in Figure 4.

posterior
(back )

Figure 4: a bilaterally symmetrical

animal – goat

Tissue layers

The first tissue layers formed in the embryo are called germ layers. The germ layers
differentiate into different organs.
Key terminology
having a body wall that is composed of two layers: the
diploblastic
endoderm and ectoderm
any organism that develops from a three-layered embryo;
triploblastic
ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm
a fluid-filled cavity that lies between the ectoderm and
coelom
endoderm and is found in triploblastic organisms
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hydrostatic a force exerted by a liquid, usually water, increased with

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force constriction and gravity

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an automatic wave of muscle contraction and relaxation that

peristalsis
moves food in one direction through the digestive tract

Primary germ layers

The primary germ layer consists of the ectoderm (outer layer) and the endoderm
(inner layer).
• The ectoderm will develop into the skin or epithelium and the nervous
system of the animal.
• The endoderm will form the digestive system.
• Animals that only have two germ layers (ecto- and endoderm) are
called diploblastic animals (Figure 5).
• Diploblastic animals do not form complex organs and are more
primitive
anisals.

diploblast tmiploblast

ectodems

sesodems

endodems

Figume 5: Tissue layems in esbmyonic developsentn e cto ( outside), endo (inside),

meso (middle)

Secondary germ layers

The mesoderm is a secondary germ layer which develops between the endoderm
and the ectoderm.
• Animals that have three tissue layers (i.e. ecto-, endo- and mesoderm)
are called triploblastic animals. Figure 5 illustrates these three tissue layers.
• The mesoderm develops into connective tissue, bone, blood,
reproductive organs, cartilage, blood and the lymphatic systems.
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Activity 1: Body symmetry and tissue layers

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1. Study the diagmass below and answem the questons that follow.

1.1 Give the body symmetry of the organisms A to C respectively. (3)

1.2 What are the advantages of an organism that has bilateral symmetry?
(2)
1.3 Give the letters of the organisms that show cephalisation. (3)

2. Study the diagmas below and answem the questons th at follow.

1 2

2.1 Provide labels for A, B and C.

(3)
2.2 Which diagram, 1 or 2, is a diploblastic organism?

(1)
2.3 Give a reason for your answer in question 2.2

(1)
2.4 What advantages does an organism with a mesoderm have? (
2)
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(15)
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Opening to the gut

Animals have either one or two openings to the gut / digestive system.
Openings Description
One Animals with only one opening to the gut will consume food through
opening the opening (mouth) and excrete waste through the same opening.
There is only one opening for both the mouth and the anus (Figure 6).
• A one-opening to the gut is also called a blind-ending gut.
• This limits the amount of food that these animals can consume
– they must excrete the waste from their digestive system before
they can consume more food.

south gastmovasculam
cavity

Figure 6: Representation of one opening to the gut

Two
Animals with two openings to the gut can consume food through a
openings
mouth opening and excrete waste through another opening called the
anus (Figure 7). This type of gut is also called a through-gut.
• A through-gut is an advantage because food can be consumed
continuously because it moves through the digestive system.
• Sections of the digestive system can also specialize (e.g.
stomach) to improve the efficiency of the digestive process.

south anus

Figure 7: Representation of two openings to the gut

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Coelom (body cavity)

A coelom is a body cavity that develops inside the mesoderm tissue layer in more
advanced animals. Animals without a coelom are said to be acoelomate.

Acoelomate

An acoelomate animal does not have a body cavity or coelom (Figure 8A).

Acoelomate animals may be either diploblastic or triploblastic. Acoelomate animals

are usually smaller and are less mobile that coelomates.

acoelomate
body coveming
(fmos ectodems )
tssue -flled megion
(fmos sesodems )
digestve tmact
flatwoms ( fmos endodems )

Figure 8A: Acoelomate body form

Coelomate

Coelomate animals have a body cavity or coelom in their mesodermal tissue layer
(Figure 8B). However, some triploblastic organisms have a body cavity that is not
surrounded by mesoderm. This cavity is called a pseudocoel (pseudo- means false
or not real) (Figure 8C).

coelomate body coveming

(fmos ectodems )
tssue -flled megion
(fmos sesodems )
digestve tmact
( fmos endodems )
annelid coelos

Figure 8B: Coelomate body form

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pseudocoelomate body coveming

( fmos ectodems )
tssue -flled megion
( fmos sesodems)
digestve tmact
( fmos endodems )
nesatode
pseudocoelos
Figure 8C: Pseudocoelomate body form

Advantages of a coelom
• Allows more complex organs to develop such as digestive organs,
muscular system, blood system etc.
• Allows the creation of a hydrostatic force to be generated for
movement in soft-bodied animals
• It separates the endoderm and ectoderm from each other with a cavity
which allows the layers to move independently of each other. This allows
peristalsis to occur
• In some organisms, the coelomic fluid (fluid found in the coelom) helps
to transport nutrients and waste in the body

An animal must be triploblastic before it can be a coelomate because the

coelom develops into the mesoderm.

(8)
Study the diagmas b elow and answem the questons that follow.

body cavity
ectodems body cavity
sesodems
endodems

sesodems
A digestve
B endodems C ectodems
cavity
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Animal phyla
Only six of the approximately 33 animal phyla will be discussed in this chapter. We
shall use the body plans discussed in the previous section to describe the different
phyla. The phyla will be discussed in order from the simplest to the more advanced.
Key terminology
invertebrates organisms without a backbone
vertebrates animals that have a backbone or spinal column
a minute (very small) sharp-pointed object or structure that is
spicule
typically present in large numbers, found in sponges
a specialized cell in the tentacles of a jellyfish or other
nematocyst coelenterate, containing a barbed or venomous coiled thread that
can be projected in self-defense or to capture prey
mesoglea the tissue in jellyfish that functions as a hydro-static skeleton
acellular not consisting of, or not containing cells
haemocoel the body cavity of most invertebrates containing circulatory fluid
a thick, rigid outer covering that protects and supports bodies and
exoskeleton provides places for muscles to attach in animals, e.g. arthropods
ecdysis (moulting) the process of casting off the outer cuticle in arthropods

Six phyla are studied, including:

• Phylum Porifera e.g. sponges
• Phylum Cnidaria e.g. blue bottles, jelly fish, sea anemones
• Phylum Platyhelminthes e.g. flukes, tapeworms, free-living planarians
• Phylum Annelida e.g. leeches, earthworms and polychaetes
• Phylum Arthropoda e.g. crab, spider, locust, millipede, centipede, fly
• Phylum Chordata e.g. fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians
Phylum Porifera
• aquatic (live in water)
• asymmetrical with no cephalisation
• function at a cellular level
• acoelomate
• no openings to the gut
• sessile organisms that feed by filtering
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out floating particles from the water column

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(Figure 9)
• the body is made up of millions of
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spicules which protect and support the Figure 9: Filter-feeding sponge

sponge

Phylum Cnidaria
• aquatic, mostly marine but some live in
freshwater habitats
• radially symmetrical with no
cephalisation
• diploblastic which means they have a
cellular ectoderm and a cellular endoderm.
• they also have an acellular jelly-like Figure 10: Polyp e.g. sea
layer between these two layers called the anemone
mesoglea.
• acoelomate
• one opening to the gut that acts as
both the mouth and the anus. the mouth
often has tentacles that help catch prey.
• Cnidarians occur in two different body
forms:
o a sessile polyp phase (Figure 10) o a
free-swimming medusa (Figure 11)

Cnidarians have stinging organelles in their

cells called nematocysts that they use for Figure 11: Medusa e.g. jellyfish
catching their prey and for protection.
Cells that contain nematocysts are called
cnidocytes or nematocytes

Phylum Platyhelminthes
• most are internal parasites but some
are aquatic and free-living

• bilaterally symmetrical with

cephalization – a definite anterior,
posterior, dorsal and ventral side
because they are bilaterally symmetrical
(Figure 12)
• dorsoventrally flattened which Figure 12: Free-living Planaria
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means they appear squashed from the

dorsal to the ventral side
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• have their sense organs and nerve

tissue concentrated in the anterior region
of their body (cephalisation) which allows
them to detect what lies ahead of them –
aids in feeding and avoiding danger

• triploblastic which allows them to

develop tissues and organs e.g. nervous
tissue and reproductive organs

• acoelomate and therefore no

circulatory system

• one opening to the gut – the

digestive cavity branches around the
body to transfer nutrients around the Figure 13: Tapeworm
body
Phylum Annelida
• aquatic (freshwater and marine) and
terrestrial habitats

• bilaterally symmetrical with

cephalisation
• triploblastic
• coelomate - coelom is a fluid-filled
cavity that is used as a hydrostatic
skeleton for movement

• segmented which means their

bodies consist of repeating segments,
called
metameres

Figure 14: An earthworm

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Phylum Arthropoda
• aquatic (freshwater and
marine
(Figure 15)) and terrestrial
• bilaterally symmetrical with
cephalisation
• triploblastic
• coelomate – the coelom is
filled with a fluid, which acts like
blood, called a haemocoel. arthropods therefore have an open Figure 15:
Diagram of a shrimp circulatory system
• more advanced segmentation of body parts so that each segment has a
particular form and function i.e. abdomen, thorax and head
• all arthropods have jointed appendages that are used for movement and
feeding
• two openings to the gut (a through-gut)  a waterproof exoskeleton made
of chitin The exoskeleton:

• protects the arthropod from drying out

• prevents diffusion of gases across its waterproof surface; arthropods have
therefore developed gaseous exchange organs such as gills and lungs
• does not grow as the arthropod grows and it must be shed regularly
(ecdysis) and regrown; the arthropod is vulnerable during regrowth of the
exoskeleton because it is weaker and requires a lot of energy

Phylum Chordata
• aquatic (freshwater and marine) and domsal, hollow
terrestrial nemve chomd
notochomd
• bilaterally symmetrical with
cephalisation
• triploblastic gill slits
anus
• coelomate
post -anal tail
• segmented body
• two openings to the gut (through-gut)
Figure 16: Anatomy of a lancelet
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• all vertebrates have a rod-like

support named a notochord which may
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develop into the vertebral column

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(Figure 16)

Vertebrates ….
• have a hollow dorsal tubular nerve
cord (spinal column) which often
forms the anterior brain (e.g. humans)

• initially develop pharyngeal gill slits

that disappear in terrestrial chordates
at adulthood
Figure 17: A shark - a typical
• have a post-anal tail chordate
• Chordata can be ectothermic or
endothermic. The body temperature
of exothermic animals is regulated by
the external environment whereas the
body temperature of endothermic
animals is regulated by internal
metabolic reactions. Examples of
endothermic animals are humans and
birds.

Phylum Porifera and Cnidaria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIfsHPpkSPs

Circulatory systems

An open circulatory system pumps haemolymph (similar to blood) around the body
but the haemolymph does not stay inside vessels as in a closed circulatory system.
Instead it flows into the haemocoel (body cavity) and diffuses back into vessels that
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bming the haesolysph back to the heamt ( Figume 1 8 ) .

heamt heamt

b loo d
Haesolysph in ssall bmanch vessels
sinuses amound in each omgan
omgans

Open circulatory system Closed circulatory system

e.g. in insects e.g. in sassals

Figure 18: Comparison between an open and a closed circulatory system.

Phyla: Annelida and Arthropoda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQb7Xq0enTI

Summary of phylum Chordata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=kgZRZmEc9j4&t=4s

The role of invertebrates in agriculture and

ecosystems

Invertebrates perform numerous functions in the ecosystem that provide us with

food, clean water and air, and even clothes. Below are three of the main roles that
invertebrates play.

Key terminology
detritus organic matter produced by the decomposition of dead organisms
organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves
humus and other plant material by soil microorganisms
the process of turning or puncturing compacted soil to allow air and
aeration water penetration

Pollination

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male parts of a flower to the female parts
of a flower of the same species by a pollinator (Figure 19).
• Pollination results in fertilisation for the production of fruits and seeds.
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• Bees are the most important pollinators because they spend their
entire life collecting pollen and nectar for their developing young.
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• There are many other invertebrates that pollinate flowers (examples

include: ants, moths,
butterflies).

Figure 19: A bee covered in pollen, feeding from a flower

Decomposition

Decomposition is the process that decays or breaks down organic molecules from
dead organisms into simpler organic molecules that are released into the
environment and reused in nutrient cycles.
• Invertebrates (worms, beetles etc.) break down complex organic
molecules (detritus), such as leaf litter, into simpler molecules.
• Microscopic decomposers (i.e. bacteria and fungi) can further break
down the organic matter into humus.
• Humus is the organic part of soils which greatly improves the quality of
soils for plants.

Soil aeration

Invertebrates like earthworms, burrow in the soil and make tunnels through the soil
(Figure 20). These tunnels allow gases to move through and aerate the soil. The
activities of earthworms are important because:
• Their tunnels accelerate the decomposition of nutrients to be reused
for plant growth
• The community structure of the habitat is dependent on soil nutrients
and plant growth
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• Their tunnels improve drainage of the soil

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• The earthworms act as pumps when they move through the tunnels by
pushing and pulling air around their tunnels
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• Their tunnels loosen the soil and allow plant roots to penetrate deeper
into the soil

Figure 20: An earthworm in its underground tunne

Summary

Key features of body plans

• A phylum is the taxonomic rank just below Kingdom and just above
class.
• There are 4 key features that are used to divide the phyla.
Body symmetry and cephalisation o Tissue layers o Number of openings to
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the gut o Presence of a coelom

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Animal phyla
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• There are six phyla that learners need to know.

o Phylum Porifera (sponges) – Asymmetrical, no
cephalisation, diploblastic, acoelomate, no gut
o Phylum Cnidaria (jellyfish, blue bottles, sea
anemones) – Radially symmetrical, no cephalisation,
diploblastic, acoelomate, one opening to the gut
o Phylum Platyhelminthes (flat worms, tapeworm) –
Bilaterally symmetrical, cephalisation, triploblastic, coelomate
o Phylum Annelida (segmented worms, earthworm) –
Bilaterally symmetrical, cephalisation, triploblastic,
coelomate, metameric segmentation
o Phylum Arthropoda (insects, millipedes, crabs,
spiders) – Bilaterally symmetrical, cephalisation, triploblastic,
coelomate, segmented bodies, many jointed legs, chitin
exoskeleton
o Phylum Chordata (Fish, frogs, birds, humans) –
Bilaterally symmetrical, cephalisation, triploblastic,
coelomate, segmented bodies, presence of notochord, dorsal
nerve cord, gill slits during development, post-anal
tail

Role of invertebrates

• Invertebrates play important roles in ecosystems and agriculture such

as the pollination of flowers, decomposition and aeration of soil.

REFERENCES

 DBE Exam guidelines

 Annual Teaching plan [ATP]
 Approved grade 11 national text book
 Internet
 NMD grade 11 Life Sciences workbook
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