Amphibian Decline & Deformities

Please write a two to three paragraphs summarizing the article on amphibian decline & deformities. Specifically address the four causes of this phenomenon and any interesting supporting facts.

The underground man

Who is the ‘underground man’? What are your first impressions of him?

The underground man seems very curious to me. So far, he known to be a middle aged man with a liver problem which he doesn't pay attention to. I think the impression he is giving off when he refuses to go to the doctor is a bit childesh. He does go to the doctor and understands he has had this disease for 20 years but yet will not get it fixed. He wants people to think he is a tough guy who can deal with problems, but really can't. He seems to be alienated from the people and things surrounding him. He gives off the feeling that he is better than everyone and his ideas are much more better than the people around him. He also seems very indecisive about his decisions. He know that he is very educated and has knowledge which might make him think he is better than other people.

Sea Cucumbers....and torn tendons?

In class, we are currently studying Phylum Echinodermata--sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sand dollars, etc. Echinoderms have several purposes within their specific ecosystems; however, why are they such a hot topic in science, especially in the medical field? The answer lies in their extraordinary ability to regenerate lost or damaged limbs, a feat attributed to catch connective tissue. This white, fiber-like connective tissue is unique to enchinoderms, and the sea cucumber has proven to be especially easy in to observe this feature as it lacks an endoskeleton. Check out the article below on how scientists are hypothesizing sea cucumbers could work miracles in the feature for people with tendon injuries.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1134/is_9_112/ai_110737006/

Insect Mania!

Insects are one of the oldest and most highly adaptable organisms on the planet. With the current climate changes (higher temperatures, seasonal shifts, etc.), how do you think the insect populations will be affected? Provide two examples in your answer--the first, describe an organism that may benefit from these effects; the second, describe an organism or situation that could be detrimental.

Check out this article from Biology Blog....AFTER you've posted your response :)
http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/10-2006/global-warming-and-insect-population-growth.html

Oh where, oh where do the Annelids belong? Oh where oh where could they be?

Ever thought about what organisms an earthworm is related too? Or the ancestral conditions of segmented worms? Check out the article below for the latest in molecular research in order to find out the answer to these questions.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090909122108.htm

Animal-Like Protists

Please read the short articles on edline. Notice that there are three different articles and you should choose yours according to your last name. Summarize the article and provide details on what you found interesting and any important concepts related to protist biology. Why do we study protists in zoology (if they are not animals)?

What the Scientists Decided--Green Sea Slug

Elysia chlorotica
Conservation status
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Heterobranchia informal group Opisthobranchia clade Sacoglossa subclade Placobranchacea
Superfamily:	Placobranchoidea
Family:	Placobranchidae
Genus:	Elysia
Species:	E. chlorotica
Binomial name
Elysia chlorotica Gould, 1870 Scientists classified the Green Sea Slug as shown above. For more information and a short film of the slug eating...check out the following link: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16124-solarpowered-sea-slug-harnesses-stolen-plant-genes-.html

Green Sea Slug

It's really interesting that an animal can steal genes from a plant and keep them for the duration of its entire life. The fact that a slug can manufacture chlorophyll is an amazing step in evolution for these animals. I didn't know that genes could flow across kingdoms. This slug is different from other slugs because it doesn't need other nutrients to keep its new talent working, it can just sunbathe and this is all very new. We would have to make a new way to class these plant animal hybrids because they are the first of their kind. This is fascinating that there can be a hybrid between plant an animal but it does make sense from an evolutionary standpoint that an animal would want to be able to never have to eat and just sunbathe.

green sea slug

I thought that this organism was especially interesting because it could be classified many different ways. It is an invertebrate, it is a plant, it is an animal. It has no backbone and it lives in the sea, it looks like a plant, it produces chlorophyll, but it is really a slug. “This could be a fusion of a plant and an animal — that’s just cool,” said invertebrate zoologist John Zardus of The Citadel in Charleston, S.C.

I thought that these were really interesting because they could be classified so many different ways; it depends on what the most important kingdom to classify something under is.

In my opinion, there should be a classification for things that fall under more than one category. I think that there should be special classification an 7^th group for something that fits into more than one group.

It has adapted its self to produce chlorophyll and blend in with coral and other plants in order for it to be more transparent in its surroundings.

Green Sea Slug--How do we classify it?

Please comment on this post, and write a brief response to the article "Green Sea Slug."
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/01/green-sea-slug/

Think about this organism--what strikes you as interesting? What adaptations does it have? How is it different from other organisms with similar abilities? Where in the world do we group this organism using our current 6 Kingdom taxonomic system? What shared traits does it have with other organisms and what characters are derived?

You do not have to answer all these questions, but be thoughtful and creative in your response, demonstrating your knowledge of concepts used in class. Also, check out your classmates posts and build upon their comments.

Zoology Zone Welcomes a New Year, a New Class

The Fall 2009 class finished the year strong and is currently spreading their newly acquired knowledge of animal diversity. It was a wonderful first semester for the Zoology Class, and I would like to thank the 12 brave students who made this class fun to teach everyday. I would also like to thank them for providing critical feedback and suggestions in order to improve the success of the class for the benefit of future students.

With that...Spring 2010 semester is quickly approaching! An entire new class of soon-to-be zoologist will be entering the Zoology Zone and writing our weekly blog sections. Keep your eyes peeled for their first entries as we follow the recent trends in animal science.