Biology 2343 reviews current hypotheses concerning the origin of species, the evolution of species, natural selection, and the diversification of life on earth. The second part of the course is involved with the global ecology, conservation biology, populations, and ethology (study of animal behavior). A highly recommended course for any MCAT student or prospective MCAT test taker. This course also expands understanding of animal behavior and sociobiology in numerous phyla. This course ROCK!!
Basic Animal Phyla (Important *General Overview*)
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Phylum Platyhelminthesex. flatworms, planarian, tapeworm, flukes, etc.
Basic characteristic: Triploblastic, flatworms are acoelomates Phylum Annelidaex. earthworms, leeches
Basic characteristic: Segmented worms, closed circulatory system |
Phylum MolluscaVery diverse, second to Arthropod in diversity.
Basic characteristic: Molluscs are coelomates with a Muscular foot, visceral mass, and a mantle. Types of Molluscs. - Gastropod Molluscs: Develop with torsion, most graze on autotrophic organisms, and some specialize in drilling into other molluscs. ex. Slugs, snails, etc. - Bivalve Molluscs: Have shells divided in two. Class Bivalvia are mostly suspension feeders with no head or daula, and have two siphons. ex. Scallop eyes, oysters, mussels, etc. - Cephalopod Molluscs: Are active predators who have tentacles, beak, and chromatophores (for color change). Shell usually reduced, internal or completely absent. Only molluscs with closed circulatory systems. ex. Cuttlefish, octopus, squid, etc. |
Lophophorates: Phyla Ectoprocta, Phoronida, and BrachiopodaLophophorates are filter feeders with a crown of ciliated tentacles around their mouth.
Basic characteristic: All are coelomates, U shaped alimentary canal, with no distinct head. Phylum Echinodermataex. Sea starts, Urchins
Basic characteristic: Endoskeleton, deuterostomes but not chordates, hydraulic water vascular system, tube feet & radial canals. |
Phylum Nematodaex. Roundworms, Guinea worm, whip worms, heart worms, hook worms, etc.
Basic characteristic: pseudocoelomates, cuticle, tough body coat |
Phylum ArthropodaBasic characteristic: Body segments & jointed appendages, exoskeleton (cuticle or shell), a diversity of forms.
Subphyla: - Cheliceriformes: pincers, fangs, & chelicerae (feeding appendage). Two regions include cephalothorax and abdomen. ex. ticks, mites, arachnids, etc. - Myriapoda: mandibles (jaw-like mouth parts. Many feet "myria - poda" ex. millipedes, centipedes, etc. - Hexapoda: Three body regions, compound eyes, mandibles, hemolymph, spiracles, and malphigian tubules. ex. Insects, springtails, etc. - Crustaceans: Have appendages on their abdomen, most are marine or freshwater (a few terrestrial), two pair antennae. ex. crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, etc. |
Practice Tests
| exam1sample.pdf |
| exam3sample.pdf |
TEST 1 - Summer 2011
TEST 1 Spring 2011
| test1.pdf |