Zoology Webquest

Phlyum: Cnidaria  

Species: Haliclystus Stejnergeri
Genus: Haliclystus
Class: Staurozoa

Species: C. fucescens
Genus: Chrysaora
Class: Scyphozoa

Species: Anthopleura xanthogrammica
Genus: Anthopleura
Class: Anthozoa

Phylum: Platyhelminthes 

Species: Bimarginatus
Genus:Pseudoceros
Class: Turbellaria

Species: Cf. Oligoglena
Genus: Planocera
Class: Turbellaria

Species: Solium
Genus: Taenia
Class: Cestoda

Pylum: Porifera 

Species: C. Clathrus
Genus: Clathrina
Class: Calcarea

Species: Lobularis
Genus: Oscarella
Class: Homosclerophorida

Genus:Clathiria 
Species:Basilana
Class: Demospongiae 

Aquarium Trip

       On Thursday we went on a trip to the Vancouver Aquarium. I enjoyed this trip immensely. We experienced a Wet Lab, and go to explore the aquarium on our own as well.
The Wet Lab was a great interactive experience. We got to touch a lot of the marine invertebrates that we had learnt about in class.
       In class we had't really learnt about the crabs and snails. However we just finished learning about Cnidarians and Profera. Getting to touch the cnidarians was the best. It was my favorite station of the lab. The anemones were sticky and would curl their tentacles around my pinky. It was difficult to take back my finger but fun. The anemones were fascinating. Another fun animal to hold were the sea urchins. The most fascinating were the sea cucumbers. They felt slimy and gooey. We also got to do an interesting experiment with sea snails. We asked the question if they had a sense of gravity. After countless tests we were able to conclude that they do.They were only able to flip back over if they had a rock to assist them. Otherwise there was not enough momentum to do so. Since they were rocking we were able to conclude they do have a sense of gravity. 
        I really enjoyed the dolphin show because dolphins are my favorite animals. Penguins were another one of my favorites. The jellyfish were my favorite marine invertebrate. I like the Amazon Rain Forest exhibit. It was extremely hot but enjoyable.

        From this trip I have learned a lot more about marine invertebrates. Many can be found in waters near British Columbia. Not only did we learn about the animals we got to see them in their natural habitats which was a great way to learn about them. This field trip was not only fun but knowledgeable. I was able to take the information which we learned and then look into the tanks and identify the animals.

1. An anemone provides the clown fish with a home and gives protection from its predators. The clown fish in return cleans the anemone and also is able to lure fish which the anemone can prey on. 

2.They spend so much time cleaning their fur because clean fur better traps air. This way the can keep warm. 
3. Sea otters had a continuous population from Alaska to California before 1900. Sea otters were reintroduced from 1969-1970. 

5. Star Fish are my favorite marine invertebrates. I especially liked the blue ones shown in the picture above.  I find their ability to regenerate fascinating. This ability also helps them survive.

6. A Beluga, it's scientific name Delphinapterus Leucas. The Vancouver Aquarium has two belugas.

7. There were no potbelly seahorses at the aquarium. 

8. The Pacific Sea Nettle closely resembles the human nervous system.  The tentacles portray our nerves. The  head of the jellyfish could be looked as the human brain. All the nerves are connected to it. 

11. This is a Pacific Octopus. The white suction cups purpose is to grab on to rocks and  smooth surfaces so they can easily move. They are considered one of the greatest predators because of their ability of camouflage. (Picture from internet)

12. This is a steller sea lion. They eat a variety of fish , shrimp and squid. They do not need to drink water because the animals that they eat provide them with water.  Their food is swallowed a whole. 

13. This is a Caiman, it comes from Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay.

14. This crocodile is a greyish green color. A great way to stay hidden within its's environment.

15. The Aquarium's biggest fish is the Arapaima 

16. This is a vegetarian fish the tambaqui. They have strong jaws that crush nuts.

17. These are piranhas. They are mot dangerous to humans when we remove hooks from their mouths. 

18.Sharks have no bones in their bodies. They are made up of cartilage and their teeth of hard enamel.

19. This is a common blue striped snapper which was also found in the shark tank. Some more fish where the Redtail Butterfly fish and the Yellowface Angelfish.

Also in the shark tank there was a stingray. 

20. This is a Giant Red Sea Urchin. It's scientific name is Strongylocentrotus franciscanus.

22. This is a green sea turtle (Chelonia Mydas)

A photo I got from the dolphin show. (A pacific white sided dolphin)

These are the cute penguins!

Fungi Hunt

       On Friday afternoon, our class and I adventured through the forest looking for fungi. It was strange seeing that I've visited the trail many times but had never noticed the variety of fungi. I was able to spot and identify many of the fungi we had learned about in class.

        In class we learnt about these different phyla of fungi: Oomycota (protistlike fungi), Zygomycota (common molds) , Ascomycota (sac fungi), Basidiomycota (club fungi), and Deuteromycota (imperfect fungi). We also learned that the role they play for the environment, as decomposers, is very important. I wasn't able to see fungi from all the phylum which I had learnt about. However the few fungi which I did see where fascinating.
        We learned about lichen also. In class we learned about foliose lichen (leafy), crustose lichen (crusty) and the fructicose lichen (shrubby). I found it difficult to identify the lichen because there was a great deal of moss on the forest's tress and rocks.
        I enjoyed getting to take the knowledge we learned in class, and then applying it.This fungi hunt was a great hands on experience. It was way more exciting then doing a worksheet or reading from the textbook.The fungi which I saw most were of the phylum Basidiomycota. Such as shelf fungi, mushrooms and jelly fungi. 
        Here are a few photographs from the fungi hunt: 

Shelf Fungi On A Log

Shelf Fungi On The Bottom Of A Log

A Large Variety Of Fungi Decomposing A Log 

A Mushroom On The Forest Floor

A Much Smaller Mushroom

   

Jelly Fungi 

More Jelly Fungi On A Tree Stump

Lichen On Tree Bark