Those apart of the arthropoda phylum are known as arthropods, and include insects, arachnids, myriapods, and crustaceans. There are approximately 1,170,000 and 5 to 10 million known species, which is over 80% of all living species. Arthropods are able to adapt to various different environments worldwide. These organisms are bilaterally symmetrical, and come in various different shapes, sizes, and colours. These organisms have great ecological importance, as they are in charge or nutrient cycling. These organisms are the most commonly found organisms on earth. Arthropods were the first ever organisms to make their way on to land, and they ruled the ancient sea. There are two types of arthropods: Terrestrial and aqautic.
MOVEMENT: The muscles attached inside of an arthropod’s nervous system are what causes these organisms to move, as well as these organisms’ flexibility. These muscles create a force through opposition, where the force is then transferred to the exoskeleton. Depending on the type of arthropod, the organism will then be able to flap their wings, flex their legs, or thump their flippers, depending on their species.
BODY COVERINGS: Arthropods have at least two or more cell layers, and the outsides of their bodies are covered with hard exoskeletons. The exoskeleton is a tough casing made up of chitin, which is meant to protect the outside of the organism. These organisms have a organ system grade level of organization, meaning that two or more tissues work together to perform a specific function for the organism. Depending on the species, some arthropods have additional features such as stingers, pincers, and the ability to release acid to defend themselves against predators.
SUPPORT: Arthropods are invertebrates that have segmented bodies covered with an
exoskeleton. In order to keep their bodies shape, the exoskeleton and high internal pressure is heavily relied on.
NUTRITION: Terrestrial arthropods obtain their food by spotting their prey and possibly using their defensive feature to kill it. The arthropod will then put it into their mouths using their legs. Aquatic arthropods use their appendages to sweep food into their mouths. Arthropods are separated into four different groups depending on what they eat: shredders, predators, herbivores and fungal feeders. Shredders feed on bacteria and fungi on the surface of dead plant matter. They can also eat live tree tissue. Predators eat other bugs, while herbivores eat plants, and Fungal feeders eat bacteria as well as fungi.
RESPIRATION: A terrestrial arthropods respiratory system consists of an intricate network of tubes, known as the tracheal system. This system carries oxygen to every cell within an arthropod's body. The air enters the organism's body through a valve located in the exoskeleton. For aquatic arthropods, these organisms use their appendages to sweep oxygen into their gills.
CIRCULATION: Arthropods’ have an open circulatory system, with a dorsal heart and a system of arteries. These arteries may be either complex or simplistic depending on the species. The heart will then contract, and sealed valves will keep the blood from coming back to the heart. The blood is then forced into the arteries which then deliver the blood into other hemocoels which are tissue spaces. When the valves are open however, a certain number of paired openings, known as ostia, run along the length of the heart and allow blood to flow into the heart. In terms of aquatic arthropods, the blood will pass through the organism’s gills on its way back to the heart.
EXCRETION: In order to release waste, arthropods have Malpighian tubules, which are extensions of the digestive tract. These structures open into the intestine, and waste simply exits from the anus of the organism.
RESPONSE: Since arthropods have very well developed and functional nervous systems, the organisms react very well to their surroundings and their environment. An arthropod’s nervous system consists of a pair of ganglia, which are bundles of nerves, as well as two long nerve cord which run down the esophagus of the organism, which connects the brain to a nerve cord that runs along ventral sections of the body. These organisms also have sensory organs such as compound eyes, and a sense of taste from mouth parts, antennae, and their legs. As well, they have sensory hairs covering their bodies. Arthropods also have a sense of smell, movement, and hearing.
REPRODUCTION: Arthropods have the ability to reproduce sexually both internally and externally. While terrestrial arthropods reproduce internally, aquatic arthropods reproduce asexually. In most cases, arthropods have separate sex organs, but this is not always the case since some species have both sex organs. Sperm are often transferred to the female within sealed packets called spermatophores. Male terrestrial arthropods will try to get the female into a position in which they can inject their spermatophore into them. Male aquatic arthropods on the other hand will release their sperm into the water, which will swim into the female, thus fertilizing her eggs. While most arthropods lay eggs, some give birth to live-bearing arthropods. Either way, it normally takes many stages for baby arthropods to become fully developed.
MOVEMENT: The muscles attached inside of an arthropod’s nervous system are what causes these organisms to move, as well as these organisms’ flexibility. These muscles create a force through opposition, where the force is then transferred to the exoskeleton. Depending on the type of arthropod, the organism will then be able to flap their wings, flex their legs, or thump their flippers, depending on their species.
BODY COVERINGS: Arthropods have at least two or more cell layers, and the outsides of their bodies are covered with hard exoskeletons. The exoskeleton is a tough casing made up of chitin, which is meant to protect the outside of the organism. These organisms have a organ system grade level of organization, meaning that two or more tissues work together to perform a specific function for the organism. Depending on the species, some arthropods have additional features such as stingers, pincers, and the ability to release acid to defend themselves against predators.
SUPPORT: Arthropods are invertebrates that have segmented bodies covered with an
exoskeleton. In order to keep their bodies shape, the exoskeleton and high internal pressure is heavily relied on.
NUTRITION: Terrestrial arthropods obtain their food by spotting their prey and possibly using their defensive feature to kill it. The arthropod will then put it into their mouths using their legs. Aquatic arthropods use their appendages to sweep food into their mouths. Arthropods are separated into four different groups depending on what they eat: shredders, predators, herbivores and fungal feeders. Shredders feed on bacteria and fungi on the surface of dead plant matter. They can also eat live tree tissue. Predators eat other bugs, while herbivores eat plants, and Fungal feeders eat bacteria as well as fungi.
RESPIRATION: A terrestrial arthropods respiratory system consists of an intricate network of tubes, known as the tracheal system. This system carries oxygen to every cell within an arthropod's body. The air enters the organism's body through a valve located in the exoskeleton. For aquatic arthropods, these organisms use their appendages to sweep oxygen into their gills.
CIRCULATION: Arthropods’ have an open circulatory system, with a dorsal heart and a system of arteries. These arteries may be either complex or simplistic depending on the species. The heart will then contract, and sealed valves will keep the blood from coming back to the heart. The blood is then forced into the arteries which then deliver the blood into other hemocoels which are tissue spaces. When the valves are open however, a certain number of paired openings, known as ostia, run along the length of the heart and allow blood to flow into the heart. In terms of aquatic arthropods, the blood will pass through the organism’s gills on its way back to the heart.
EXCRETION: In order to release waste, arthropods have Malpighian tubules, which are extensions of the digestive tract. These structures open into the intestine, and waste simply exits from the anus of the organism.
RESPONSE: Since arthropods have very well developed and functional nervous systems, the organisms react very well to their surroundings and their environment. An arthropod’s nervous system consists of a pair of ganglia, which are bundles of nerves, as well as two long nerve cord which run down the esophagus of the organism, which connects the brain to a nerve cord that runs along ventral sections of the body. These organisms also have sensory organs such as compound eyes, and a sense of taste from mouth parts, antennae, and their legs. As well, they have sensory hairs covering their bodies. Arthropods also have a sense of smell, movement, and hearing.
REPRODUCTION: Arthropods have the ability to reproduce sexually both internally and externally. While terrestrial arthropods reproduce internally, aquatic arthropods reproduce asexually. In most cases, arthropods have separate sex organs, but this is not always the case since some species have both sex organs. Sperm are often transferred to the female within sealed packets called spermatophores. Male terrestrial arthropods will try to get the female into a position in which they can inject their spermatophore into them. Male aquatic arthropods on the other hand will release their sperm into the water, which will swim into the female, thus fertilizing her eggs. While most arthropods lay eggs, some give birth to live-bearing arthropods. Either way, it normally takes many stages for baby arthropods to become fully developed.