Last Post for Biology 11

Biology 11 was full of new information class after class and it was extremely demanding to shove that all into my head. But despite all the foreign material taught to us, there were a few concepts that reappeared countless times. Evolution was a major theory that taught us how life on Earth is how they are today. From evolutionists like Lamark and Darwin and the comparison of the complexity of one organism to the other all the way to how plants moved from water to land. Characteristics for each of the six kingdoms as well as characteristics for each phyla within the six kingdoms and characteristics for each class within the phyla within the six kingdoms. Cell type? Mode of nutrition? Body symmetry? It was very overwhelming but essential to know.

I am no doubt a procrastinator and I am pretty sure the rest of the class is also but just thinking back to those days where I could have studied but I instead began cleaning my room makes me a little regretful. If I planned out my time, I wouldn't have had to chug down cups of tea at two in the morning. And maybe, if my study time was divided throughout a few days then maybe I could have received that couple of marks I missed on that unit test. I'd rather get everything done and over with then leave it last minute but I need to work on that just a tiny bit...

I personally was really interested in both the plant and animal unit. Especially having the privilege to dissect in the bio lab was a great experience and enhanced my learning. Simple everyday things you see, mosses, worms, flowers, we were able explore more into them and understand the importance of living organisms no matter their size or appearance.  ˆ⌣ˆ

Day at the Aquarium.

This is a Beluga whale. I personally think Beluga whales are adorable because they look like they're always happy.

Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia

Characteristics that make it similar to others in its class are:

- They are endothermic (Warm blooded)
- Four chambered heart
- Mammary Glands to nourish their young

Earthworm Dissection.

 

I chose the earthworm mainly because the squid was something I was used to seeing (and eating). Being able to have inspected the internal organs of an earthworm was a breath of fresh air you could say. It was a new experience. There was more inside a worm than I expected. It was a great pleasure to cut open this Annelid and also the displeasure in witnessing the juices and guts of it ooze out before my eyes. And we couldn't forget about that atrocious smell that roamed into our nostrils. Yum...   (¬‿¬)

How are Earthworms important in the world?

An earthworm may be small and weak but that doesn't prevent it from having an important role in the environment.

Earthworms are commonly found in the soil of the Earth where they are constantly wriggling around and digging tiny holes which helps aerate the soil.
All the amount of soil and detritus that transfers through an earthworm contributes to the amount of nitrogen being released into the environment.
The absence of earthworms may lead to farm soils to become less structured and fertile.

Arthropod - The Asp Caterpillar

Three characteristics of Arthorpods are:
- Jointed appendages: aids in movement. "Arthro" means joint and "Pod" means foot.
- Exoskeleton: Acts as a shield surrounding the arthropod. As they grow, they shed their exoskeleton in a process called metamorphosis.
- Three body regions: Head, Thorax, and Abdomen.

Asp Caterpillar:

Just by the two pictures, you can probably already predict why this specific arthropod is so eye-catching to me. Caterpillars are mostly seen as friendly insects whether they may be as fat as a sausage or as long as your finger. As cliché as it sounds, don't judge a book by its cover! This caterpillar may look soft and cuddly but in reality, these little guys will sting you and give you a gift full of unpleasant surprises.

It reminded me a little of the sea cucumber that was shown to us at the aquarium. But sea cucumbers on the other hand, look extremely intimidating and feel as though they are made of jello.