DESCRIPTION
Throughout our second semester, each student in our Marine Bio class updates a field guide based on each new phylum that we cover. This website update will cover the fifth phylum of invertebrates we covered in class, Echinodermata. Each page of our field guide has to include the phylum name and an example of a creature from that phylum, including the creature's common name, scientific name, and three interesting facts about them. We also needed to include a to-scale drawing of the creature with stippling to show it's shade variation.
CONTENT
In my field guide for the phylum Echinodermata, I drew a cushion sea star. It's scientific name is Oreaster reticulatus.
Their larvae form part of zooplankton and drift with currents.
They are omnivores.
Adults are usually found on sandy bottoms while juveniles inhabit seagrass meadows.
An image of this page of my field guide is included below.
Animals in the phylum Echinodermata have radial symmetry and have no segmentation. They have an endoskeleton and a complete digestive tract. These animals have a simple nerve ring and use their skin and tube feet for respiration. They have 5 part symmetry and a water vascular system. They are important for preventing algae overgrowth and are predators in their natural environment.
REFLECTION
I like that we are able to draw any animal from the phylum and that gives us freedom to include different species than our classmates. I find that it takes a long time to scale a drawing and to get the right shape on a square grid, but it seems to become easier with practice. I like that we don't need to include all information from the unit on the page because it would make organization more difficult. Using the designated amount of time in class has been a challenge, but I am able to complete the assignment without too much difficulty otherwise.
Throughout our second semester, each student in our Marine Bio class updates a field guide based on each new phylum that we cover. This website update will cover the fifth phylum of invertebrates we covered in class, Echinodermata. Each page of our field guide has to include the phylum name and an example of a creature from that phylum, including the creature's common name, scientific name, and three interesting facts about them. We also needed to include a to-scale drawing of the creature with stippling to show it's shade variation.
CONTENT
In my field guide for the phylum Echinodermata, I drew a cushion sea star. It's scientific name is Oreaster reticulatus.
Their larvae form part of zooplankton and drift with currents.
They are omnivores.
Adults are usually found on sandy bottoms while juveniles inhabit seagrass meadows.
An image of this page of my field guide is included below.
Animals in the phylum Echinodermata have radial symmetry and have no segmentation. They have an endoskeleton and a complete digestive tract. These animals have a simple nerve ring and use their skin and tube feet for respiration. They have 5 part symmetry and a water vascular system. They are important for preventing algae overgrowth and are predators in their natural environment.
REFLECTION
I like that we are able to draw any animal from the phylum and that gives us freedom to include different species than our classmates. I find that it takes a long time to scale a drawing and to get the right shape on a square grid, but it seems to become easier with practice. I like that we don't need to include all information from the unit on the page because it would make organization more difficult. Using the designated amount of time in class has been a challenge, but I am able to complete the assignment without too much difficulty otherwise.