Labs
Sea Star Disection
Phylum: Echinoderm Class: Asteroida
How do sea stars keep things like barnacles from growing on them? Sea Stars have a really rigid body and have small bone spikes that keep things like barnacles from growing on their rigid structure. What is the function of the madreporite? It allows water to enter thestem. How does a sea star hunt its prey? Stars grip their prey with their section feet. They usually feed on mussels. Once they catch the mussel, they ingest it and break down the shells. How do sea stars breath? Sea stars breath through their tube feet. They separate the oxygen from the water while it moves through their tissues. What does it mean to be a keystone predator? It is a species that other species depend on. What region are the star fish in the tide pools? They are in the middle in the inner tidal zone. Describe the texture of this animal. This animal is very rigid and sharp. What kinds of sensory organs to sea stars have? Sea stars are limited on their sensory organs especially their smell and sight.
Shark Disection
The shark dissection was really neat and allowed us to evaluate the structures and organs of a shark. Shark skin is covered by tiny flat V-shaped scales, calleddermal denticles, that are more like teeth than fish scales. These denticles decrease drag and turbulence, allowing the shark to swim faster and more quietly. This presented in picture number one. Picture number two shows the pectoral and pelvic fins. These two structures help the fish to stabilize itself. Lastly, picture number three displays the sharks liver. As shown by Mr. Gardner, the liver helps the shark stay afloat.
Lobster Disection
Mackerel Disection
The mackerel disection was a blast! We got to inspect all the different structures and organs of the fish!
Picture 1: The fish with all the organs taken out Picture 2: The eye ball is removed Picture 3: The organ that looks like a triangle is the fish's heart
Dorsal Fins: used for keeping the fish straight in it's direction while swimming or turning. Pectoral fins: Used when the fish wants to break or turn. Operculum: The operculum is the gill cover and protects the gills from any harm. It also helps capture food particles for the fish to eat. Caudal Fin: Is used for power and speed. Anal Fins: The anal fins are located on the ventral side of the fish and they are used for stability Pelvic Fins: Help keep the fish from moving side to side and keep it in balance Gills/Rakers: Are used for capturing tiny food particles Myomer Muscles: It transfers body energy into energy to digest Placoid Fins: They help provide protection from predators. They are also known as the dermal denticles Cornea/Lens: The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. The cornea, with the anterior chamber and lens, refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power
Questions:
-Describe the term fusiform. What fish are considered fusiform? Fusiform is more or less torpedo-shaped with a slightly rounded head and a long, thin tapering body. Examples include wahoo, barracudas and tunas
-What is the purpose of counter shading? What is meant by disruptive pattern? It basically is camouflage. It is when an animal is darker on its upper side of the body and lighter on the bottom side of the body.
-What is the function of the lateral line? The lateral line is used to detect movement, vibration, and pressure gradients in the surrounding water.
-How do gills serve as a dual purpose? They help protect the fish and they collect food particles and take in water.
Crustacean Disection
The crustacean lab was awesome!!! We got to dissect the cray fish and were able to discuss and inspect the different structures and what each structure was meant to do.
Seaweed Lab
Mr. Gardner surprised us with the seaweed lab. Before school, Mr. Gardner went diving and got us fresh seaweed to inspect in class! He showed us our most invasive seaweed here in Southern California.
The Lobster dissection was my favorite dissection of the year. Like all of the other dissections, we were able to analyze the structures of the animal and then we were able to cook it and eat it! It turned out to be delicious!!!