Biology is who we are: Are birds reptiles?

Diversity of Animal Life

Welcome to our class blog for our unit on the diversity of life. By exploring the websites connected to this blog and completing the activities, you will become familiar with nine major groups of animals. You will learn how organisms within a group are related, the names and description of representative organisms for each group, and the essential similarities and differences among groups. You will also have an opportunity to investigate recent controversies about relationships among some familiar animals and blog on their potential to change how we think about the world.

Happy exploring!

As we know, DNA analysis is rearranging our thoughts about the relationships between different taxonomic groups. It used to be that vertebrates were divided into five classes--fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds. But now scientists who study systematics are saying that birds should not be considered a separate class, but are descended from a dinosaur ancestor and thus are part of the reptile clade. Take a look at some basic characteristics that differentiate classes of vertebrate. For articles with different points of view about bird descent from dinosaurs, read here or here in support of that line of descent. Read here for a counter view, and here for a summary of evidence for and against.

Your Assignments

1. Investigation of human classification: Record the complete lineage of our own species. For each taxon, research the site given and record its distinguishing features. Post a blog entry on any information that was surprising to you by Wednesday of week 1.
Note: on the Animal Diversity Website, you may need to type taxon name into the search window to get the information.

2. Slide show on classification of animal phyla: Use both diagrams and text to identify defining characteristics that differentiate branches of the phylogenetic tree and the nature and significance of each characteristic. To be submitted in class by Friday of week 1.

3. Investigation of nine phyla: For each phylum, click on both name and picture to access information. There is a lot of information so we are going to share the task. Each of you should select two phyla to research in depth. You will sign up in class to ensure that all phyla are equally represented. You are to describe the body plans for each phylum you choose and relate body plan to how and what it eats, how it moves, where it lives, how it eliminates waste, how it defends itself, and how it reproduces. In addition, you should include the common name(s) of the phylum and organisms with which we would be familiar as a reference. Finally, you should include how many species are thought to be in the phylum and any unique or noteworthy characteristics that don't seem to fit in your earlier description. A rubric will be provided for you in class along with an example using the phylum Porifera. Your results should be in bullet point form in blog entries so the whole class has ready access to your information. Due by Friday of week 2.
Extra credit: for those who need or want extra credit, you may watch one of the movies linked on this site or read the extra article and additional references on Architeuthys and write a brief report.

4. Weigh in on a controversy: You have been provided with texts taking different positions on two ongoing controversies: the relationship between birds and dinosaurs and how closely chimps are related to humans. Choose one issue and read the provided texts as well as pursuing additional texts on your own. You are to post your thoughts on the controversy you chose and to reply to at least two others who took a different position. Your grade will depend on how well you back your posts up with evidence from your reading. Initial post should be by Tuesday of week 3 and response posts are due by Friday of week 3.

Biology is who we are

Diversity of Animal Life

Are birds reptiles?

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Porifera

Cnidaria

Platyhelminthes

Nematoda

Annelida

Mollusca

Arthropoda

Echinodermata

Chordata

Your Assignments