Conclusion
1. How has each phylum increased in complexity using structural/behavioural adaptation?
Phylum Porifera: no body wall layers, no body symmetry, no segmentation, no body cavity, open circulatory system, no skeleton, used water for reproduction, respiration and excretion
Phylum Cnidaria: diploblastic, radial symmetry, no segmentation, no body cavity, digestive system contains a gastro-vascular cavity with one opening, open circulatory system, no skeleton, nerve net, alternation of generations life cycle (medusa & polyp)
Phylum Platyhelminthes: Triploblastic, bilateral symmetry, no segmentation, acoelomate, flame cells, open circulatory system, no skeleton, cephalization, hermaphroditic, nerve ladder, everted pharynx
Phylum Nematoda: triploblastic, bilateral symmetry, no segmentation, pseudocoelom, food tubes with mouth and anus for digestive system, open circulatory system, no skeleton
Phylum Annelida: triploblastic, bilateral symmetry, simple segmentation, true coelom, food tubes with mouth and anus, septa, setae, crop, gizzard, pharynx, 5 hearts, ventral nerve cord and a brain, closed circulatory system, protostomes
Phylum Mollusca: triploblastic, bilateral symmetry, no segmentation, true coelom, food tubes with mouth and anus, open circulatory system, no skeleton, protostomes
Phylum Arthropoda: triploblastic, bilateral symmetry, specialized segmentation, true coelom, food tubes with mouth and anus, open circulatory system, jointed walking legs, external skeleton made of chitin, book lungs, gills, tracheid, all sexual reproduction (genetic variability) hemocoel, protostomes
Phylum Echinodermata: triploblastic, pentaradial symmetry, no segmentation, true coelom, food tube with mouth and anus, 2 stomachs: cardiac & pyloric, no circulatory system (uses water vascular system instead), internal skeleton (endoskeleton)
Phylum Chordata: shares 4 general characteristics- notochord, dorsal rod of cartilage used for support along body axis, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal gill slits, muscular, post and tail. This phylum shows a much more advanced digestive system, circulatory system, respiratory system as well as excretory system and reproductive system.
Throughout each phylum, there are increases in behaviour and structural adaptations. Each phylum is more evolved than the previous, showing more advanced characteristics.
Phylum Porifera: no body wall layers, no body symmetry, no segmentation, no body cavity, open circulatory system, no skeleton, used water for reproduction, respiration and excretion
Phylum Cnidaria: diploblastic, radial symmetry, no segmentation, no body cavity, digestive system contains a gastro-vascular cavity with one opening, open circulatory system, no skeleton, nerve net, alternation of generations life cycle (medusa & polyp)
Phylum Platyhelminthes: Triploblastic, bilateral symmetry, no segmentation, acoelomate, flame cells, open circulatory system, no skeleton, cephalization, hermaphroditic, nerve ladder, everted pharynx
Phylum Nematoda: triploblastic, bilateral symmetry, no segmentation, pseudocoelom, food tubes with mouth and anus for digestive system, open circulatory system, no skeleton
Phylum Annelida: triploblastic, bilateral symmetry, simple segmentation, true coelom, food tubes with mouth and anus, septa, setae, crop, gizzard, pharynx, 5 hearts, ventral nerve cord and a brain, closed circulatory system, protostomes
Phylum Mollusca: triploblastic, bilateral symmetry, no segmentation, true coelom, food tubes with mouth and anus, open circulatory system, no skeleton, protostomes
Phylum Arthropoda: triploblastic, bilateral symmetry, specialized segmentation, true coelom, food tubes with mouth and anus, open circulatory system, jointed walking legs, external skeleton made of chitin, book lungs, gills, tracheid, all sexual reproduction (genetic variability) hemocoel, protostomes
Phylum Echinodermata: triploblastic, pentaradial symmetry, no segmentation, true coelom, food tube with mouth and anus, 2 stomachs: cardiac & pyloric, no circulatory system (uses water vascular system instead), internal skeleton (endoskeleton)
Phylum Chordata: shares 4 general characteristics- notochord, dorsal rod of cartilage used for support along body axis, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal gill slits, muscular, post and tail. This phylum shows a much more advanced digestive system, circulatory system, respiratory system as well as excretory system and reproductive system.
Throughout each phylum, there are increases in behaviour and structural adaptations. Each phylum is more evolved than the previous, showing more advanced characteristics.
2. Which organism is best adapted for life on earth?
I think that insects are the best adapted organism for life on Earth. Although they are not considered the most advanced organism, I think they are the best adapted. They are small and do not need a lot of food to survive. All their reproduction is sexual, allowing for genetic variability. They are capable of flight, allowing them to escape predators. Insects make up about 70% of the animal kingdom, demonstrating their ability to survive on Earth. It is clear that insects do not need to be any more evolved to be the best adapted organism for life on Earth.
I think that insects are the best adapted organism for life on Earth. Although they are not considered the most advanced organism, I think they are the best adapted. They are small and do not need a lot of food to survive. All their reproduction is sexual, allowing for genetic variability. They are capable of flight, allowing them to escape predators. Insects make up about 70% of the animal kingdom, demonstrating their ability to survive on Earth. It is clear that insects do not need to be any more evolved to be the best adapted organism for life on Earth.
3. This is portfolio a sound piece of evidence in support of the theory of evolution?
Although my portfolio supports and shows evolution in both plants and animals, I do not believe it is a sound piece of evidence. A lot of the information on my portfolio are from one source (Ms. Nickel's notes) as well as my own knowledge/inferences. This portfolio is very fact based, and can be rather convincing of evolution, but it is not necessarily a reliable source of the theory of evolution.
Although my portfolio supports and shows evolution in both plants and animals, I do not believe it is a sound piece of evidence. A lot of the information on my portfolio are from one source (Ms. Nickel's notes) as well as my own knowledge/inferences. This portfolio is very fact based, and can be rather convincing of evolution, but it is not necessarily a reliable source of the theory of evolution.