Skip to main content
Biology LibreTexts

26.3: Lab Report

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
  • Page ID
    105945

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    Sponges (Phylum Porifera)

    Questions

    1. The preserved sponge specimens will be on display, but may differ from the ones directly mentioned in the lab handout. Please make observations on the available specimens and fill in the chart below.
      Name of Specimen Physical Description Sponge Structures Visible (osculum, other spores, spicules)
           
           
           
      1. What type of symmetry is displayed in the sponge specimens?

    2. Grantia slides.
      1. What is the function of spicules?

      2. Do sponges contain true tissues?

      3. Can you find any collar cells in the slide?

      4. What is the function of the collar cells?

      5. Can you find any epidermal cells in the sponge slide?

      6. What is the function of the epidermal cells?


    Cnidarians (Phylum Cnidaria)

    Questions

    1. Does the hydra illustrate the polyp or the medusa stage?
    2. How many germ layers does the hydra contain?
    3. What type of symmetry is seen in the hydra?
    4. Can you find the hydra tentacles? How many tentacles does your hydra specimen contain?
    5. Name the stinging cells present on the tentacles that are unique to cnidarians.
    6. Explain the movement of the hydra if live specimens are available. If they are not, review the video on hydra movement.


    7. Please make observations on the available specimens. And fill in the chart below.
    8. Name of Specimen Physical Description Polyp or Medusa Stage?
           
           
           
           
       

    Lophotrochozoa

    Flatworms (Phylum Platyhelminthes)

    Questions

    1. Observe the live planaria, if present, under the dissecting scope. If there are no live specimens, review the planarian video.
      1. What type of symmetry does the planaria display?
      2. Does the planaria exhibit cephalization?
      3. Can you locate the planaria eyespots? What do the eyespots sense?
    2. View the large planaria model. Make sure you can identify the pharynx, the eyespots, and the flame cells.
      1. Does the planaria have a complete or incomplete digestive system?
      2. What is the function of the flame cell?

      3. Are planaria hermaphrodites?
      4. Scientists say planaria have ladder like organs. Why?



    3. View the preserved liver fluke specimens.
      1. Where does the adult liver fluke live?

      2. When the liver fluke egg hatches, what organism does it infect first?

      3. Can humans become infected?

    4. View the preserved tapeworm and the slides of the tapeworm scolex (head) and proglottids (reproductive bodies).
    1. What structures are located on the scolex to help the tapeworm attach to the host?
    2. Are tapeworms hermaphrodites?
    3. Name two livestock that can be infected by tapeworms.
    4. If a human is infected, where does the tapeworm live?

    Molluscs (Phylum Mollusca)

    Please make observations on the available specimens and fill in the chart below.

    Name of Specimen Physical Description Gastropod, chiton, bi-valve or cephalopod
         
         
         
         

    Questions

    1. What is the function of the foot?

    2. What is the function of the gills?

    3. What does the mantle secrete for the clam?

    4. What is contained within the visceral mass?

    Segmented Worms (Phylum Annelida)

    Questions

    1. What type of symmetry does the earthworm display?

    2. Does the earthworm exhibit cephalization?

    3. Does the earthworm exhibit segmentation?

    The preserved annelida specimens will be on display, but may differ from the ones directly mentioned in the lab handout. Please make observations on the available specimens and fill in the table below.

    Name of Specimen Physical Description Leech, Earthworm, or Marine Worm
         
         
         
         

    Ecdysozoa

    Roundworms (Phylum Nematoda)

    Questions

    1. View the specimens and preserved slides of Ascaris.
      1. What type of symmetry is seen in the roundworm?

      2. Does it exhibit cephalization?

      3. Ascaris is a parasite that swims constantly in human intestines. What structure protects the nematode from being digested?


    2. View the Trichinella slide.
      1. What mammal tissue does this roundworm infect?


      2. Draw a picture of the Trichinella as viewed under the microscope.


    3. If there are live vinegar eel specimens available, view them. If there are no live specimens available, review the vinegar eels video.
      1. Describe the movement of the vinegar eels.


      2. Do they have a complete or incomplete digestive system?


    Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

    Questions

    1. View the preserved arthropod specimens available. There will be at least one example of each lineage group discussed on the website but not all of the specimens may be available. Use the table below to organize your observations.
      Name of Specimen Lineage Exoskeleton? Jointed Appendages? Specialized Segments
               
               
               
               
               
               
    2. What type of symmetry is displayed in the arthropods?


    3. Do the arthropods exhibit cephalization?


    Crayfish Dissection

    Questions

    1. Make sure you can identify the following external structures: antenna, chiliped, cephalothorax, abdomen, and walking legs.

    2. Do you have a male or female crayfish?
    3. How many swimmerets does your crayfish have?

    4. How many rows of gills does the crayfish have?

    5. Where do the gills attach?

    6. Can you find the stomach and the digestive glands?

    7. What does the stomach attach to directly?

    8. Try to locate the green glands. What is the function of this structure?

    Review Questions

    Answer the review questions below. The phyla we viewed today were the porifera, the cnidaria, the nematoda and the arthropoda.

    1. Which phyla exhibited bilateral symmetry?


    2. Which phyla had no true tissues?


    3. Which phyla contained parasitic organisms?


    4. Which phyla were coelomates?


    5. Which phyla exhibited cephaliziation?


    6. Which phyla that you viewed today contained specialized appendages?


    7. Which phyla exhibited radial symmetry?


    8. Which phyla were pseudocoelomates?


    9. Which phyla had a complete digestive system?


    10. Which phyla were multicellular?


    11. Which phyla were asymmetrical?


    12. Which phyla were acoelomates?


    Deuterostomia

    Echinoderms (Phylum Echinodermata)

    1. View the preserved echinoderm specimens will be on display. Please make observations on the available specimens and fill in the chart below.
    Name of Specimen Physical Description
       
       
       
       

    Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

    Questions

    1. View the lancelet slide. The lancelet is an example of a cephalochordate. It contains all four chordate characteristics. List the four chordate characteristics.



    2. View the lancelet model. Make sure you can identify all four chordate characteristics on the model.
    3. Chooses several vertebrates on display and fill in the chart below. Can you identify all four chordate characteristics on each specimen? Why or why not?
    Name of Specimen Physical Description
       
       
       
     

    This page titled 26.3: Lab Report is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Darcy Ernst, May Chen, Katie Foltz, and Bridget Greuel (Open Educational Resource Initiative at Evergreen Valley College) .