17.2 Overview of Invertebrates

Lesson Objectives

• Describe general characteristics of invertebrates.
• Give an overview of invertebrate classification.
• Learn a Creationist viewpoint about the origin of invertebrates.

WORKBOOK ASSIGNMENT:

Chapter 17.2 workbook pages

Get the workbook here: https://guesthollow.com/store/free-high-school-biology-workbook/

Vocabulary

• bilateral symmetry
  • symmetry of a body plan in which there are distinct head and tail ends, so the body can be divided into two identical right and left halves
• cephalization
  • concentration of nerve tissue in one end of an animal, forming a head region
• coelom
  • fluid-filled body cavity
• complete digestive system
  • digestive system consisting of a digestive tract and two body openings (mouth and anus)
• ectoderm
  • outer embryonic cell layer in animals
• endoderm
  • inner embryonic cell layer in animals
• hydrostatic skeleton
  • type of internal support in an animal body that results from the pressure of fluid within the body cavity known as the coelom
• incomplete digestive system
  • digestive system that consists of a digestive cavity and a single opening that serves as both mouth and anus
• larva (plural, larvae)
  • juvenile stage that occurs in the life cycle of many invertebrates, fish, and amphibians and that differs in form and function from the adult stage
• mesoderm
  • embryonic cell layer in many animals that is located between the endoderm (inner cell layer) and ectoderm (outer cell layer)
• pseudocoelom
  • partial, fluid-filled cavity inside the body of some invertebrates
• radial symmetry
  • symmetry of a body plan in which there is a distinct top and bottom but not distinct head and tail ends, so the body can be divided into two halves like a pie
• segmentation
  • division of an animal body into multiple segments

Introduction

The majority of animals today are invertebrates. They have a wide range of physical traits and ways of life. Modern invertebrates include animals as different as the sponge and tarantula shown in Figure below. Why are both of these animals classified as invertebrates? What traits do they have common?

Characteristics of Invertebrates

One trait the sponge and tarantula share is lack of a backbone. In fact, they don’t have any bones at all. These are defining traits of all invertebrates. Some invertebrates have a skeleton, but it isn’t made of bone. Many other traits of invertebrates show considerable diversity.

Digestion

Invertebrates have one of two types of digestive system. They are called incomplete and complete digestive systems. Both are shown in Figure below. An incomplete digestive system consists of a digestive cavity with one opening. The single opening serves as both mouth and anus. A complete digestive system consists of a digestive tract with two openings. One opening is the mouth. The other is the anus.

Movement

All invertebrates can move on their own during at least some stage of their life cycle. However, they may differ in how they move. Several ways are described below.

• Some invertebrates are simply carried along by water currents. They cannot control their movement in a particular direction. An example is a jellyfish.
• Other invertebrates can contract muscles to move independently of water currents or on solid surfaces. They can also control the direction in which they move. An example is a roundworm. It can move forward and to the left or right.
• Still other invertebrates have specialized appendages for movement. For example, they may have jointed legs for walking or climbing or wings for flying. An example is an insect such as a fly.

Nervous System

Most invertebrates have a nervous system. The nervous system allows them to sense and respond to their environment. The simplest invertebrate nervous system is just a network of nerves that can sense touch (see Figure below). Most invertebrates have a more complex nervous system. It may include a brain and several different sense organs.

Reproduction

Most invertebrates reproduce sexually. Diploid adults produce haploid gametes (sperm and eggs). In some species, the same individuals produce both sperm and eggs. In other species, sperm and eggs are produced by separate male and female individuals. Fertilization occurs when a sperm and an egg fuse to form a diploid zygote. The zygote develops into an embryo and eventually into a new adult organism. On the way, it may pass through one or more larval stages. A larva (plural, larvae) is a juvenile, or immature, stage of an animal. It is generally quite different in form and function from the adult form of the species. For example, the larva may be able to swim freely, whereas the adult must remain permanently attached to a solid surface.

Some invertebrates can also reproduce asexually. This may occur by fission or budding. Fission takes place when an animal simply divides into two parts. Each part then regrows the missing part. The result is two whole organisms. Budding may take place when a parent forms a small bump, or bud. The bud remains attached to the parent while it develops into a new individual.

Radial Symmetry

One animal trait God created is symmetry. To understand symmetry, you need to see an animal that lacks symmetry. A sponge, like the one in Figure below, lacks symmetry. This means it cannot be divided into two identical halves. A symmetrical organism, in contrast, can be divided into two identical halves. Both the coral polyp and the beetle in Figure below have symmetry.

TED Ed: The Science of Symmetry

The coral polyp in Figure above has radial symmetry. The coral has a distinct top and bottom but not distinct ends. It can be divided into identical halves like a pie, but not into right and left halves. Animals with radial symmetry have no sense of directions such as forward and backward or left and right. This makes controlled movement in these directions impossible.

Cephalization

Flatworms have cephalization. This is the concentration of nerve tissue at one end of the body, forming a head region. This is highly adaptive. It allows central control of the entire organism.

Bilateral Symmetry

Bilateral Symmetry is demonstrated by the beetle in Figure above. With concentrated nerve tissue at the head but not at the tail end, the two ends of the body are distinct from each other. The animal can be divided down the middle to form identical right and left halves. It allows the animal to tell front from back and left from right. This is needed for controlled movements in these directions.

Mesoderm

 The mesoderm is a third layer of cells between the ectoderm and the endoderm (see Figure below).

Pseudocoelom and Coelom

A pseudocoelom is a partial body cavity that is filled with fluid. It allows room for internal organs to develop. The fluid also cushions the internal organs. The pressure of the fluid within the cavity provides stiffness. It gives the body internal support, forming a hydrostatic skeleton. It explains why roundworms are round and flatworms are flat. God also created a coelom. This is a fluid-filled body cavity, completely enclosed by mesoderm. It lies between the digestive cavity and body wall (see Figure below). Invertebrates with a true coelom include mollusks and annelids.

Segmented Body

Segmentation is a division of the body into multiple segments. Both the earthworm and ant pictured in Figure below have segmented bodies. This trait increases flexibility. It permits a wider range of motion. All annelids and arthropods are segmented. Arthropods also evolved jointed appendages. For example, God gave them jointed legs for walking and “feelers” (antennae) for sensing.

Notochord

Some invertebrates have a notochord. This is the stiff support rod in a chordate. The sea squirt in Figure below is an example.

Classification of Invertebrates

Eight major phyla contain the majority of invertebrate species.

Major Invertebrate Phyla

Table below gives an overview of the eight invertebrate phyla with the greatest number of species. The next chapter describes each phylum in greater detail.

Hands on Activity

Print out and complete this activity to better remember how invertebrates are classified:

http://ellenjmchenry.com/lift-the-flap-classification-chart-of-invertebrates/

Protostomes and Deuterostomes

Most invertebrates (and higher animals) can also be placed in one of two groups based on how they develop as embryos. The two groups are called protostomes and deuterostomes. As shown in Figure below, organisms in the two groups have different ways of forming the coelom and mouth, among other differences.

Mollusks, annelids, and arthropods are protostomes. Echinoderms and chordates are deuterostomes. This distinction is important. Why does it matter? It shows that echinoderms are more closely related to chordates than are the other invertebrate phyla. This is not apparent based on other, more obvious traits.

Scishow 8 Boss Invertebrates That Eat Whatever They Want

Lesson Summary

• The majority of living animals are invertebrates. Invertebrates lack a backbone. They may have an incomplete or a complete digestive system. They vary in how they move and in the complexity of their nervous system. Most invertebrates reproduce sexually. After hatching, many invertebrates pass through one or more larval stages that are different from the adult stage.
• Many important traits evolved in invertebrates. They include: multicellularity, tissues and organs, radial and bilateral symmetry, cephalization, mesoderm, complete digestive system, coelom, segmented body, and notochord.
• Eight invertebrate phyla contain most invertebrate species. Invertebrates (and higher animals) can also be placed in one of two groups based on how they develop as embryos.

Lesson Review Questions

Recall

1. Describe the range of variation in the nervous systems of invertebrates.

2. Distinguish among asymmetry, radial symmetry, and bilateral symmetry.

3. Define cephalization. What is its relationship to bilateral symmetry?

4. What is mesoderm? Name an invertebrate with mesoderm.

5. Define coelom. How is the coelom related to the hydrostatic skeleton?

6. What is segmentation?

7. Describe evidence showing that echinoderms are more closely related to chordates than are other invertebrate phyla.

Apply Concepts

8. Create a diagram to show the life cycle of an invertebrate with a larval stage. Include simple sketches of the adult and larval stages of the animal.

9. Assume you have discovered a new invertebrate. It has a segmented body, a brain, and jointed appendages. In which phylum would you place it? Why?

Think Critically

10. Explain how invertebrate movement is related to body symmetry.

Points to Consider

This chapter presents an overview of invertebrate phyla. The next chapter describes invertebrate phyla in greater detail.

• What questions do you have about invertebrate phyla now? For example, do you wonder where organisms in the different phyla live or what they eat?
• Which invertebrate phylum do you think has the greatest number of species?

Reading Assignment

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