Bio lab 2

Topic 1: Introduction to Fungi

  1. Characteristics of Fungi:

    • Eukaryotic organisms

    • Cell walls made of chitin

    • Heterotrophic, absorbing nutrients from surroundings

    • Can be unicellular (yeasts) or multicellular (molds and mushrooms)

    • Reproduce sexually and asexually

  2. Factors for Growth:

    • Moisture

    • Organic material as a food source

    • Warm temperatures

    • Low pH

  3. Reproduction:

    • Asexual: Spore production by mitosis, budding, fragmentation.

    • Sexual: Fusion of hyphae from different individuals, zygote formation, meiosis.

  4. Fungi Types:

    • Yeasts: Unicellular, ferment sugars

    • Molds: Filamentous, rapid growth

    • Mushrooms: Fruiting bodies of some fungi

  5. Symbiotic Relationships:

    • Lichens: Symbiosis between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria

      • Algae provide photosynthesis-derived nutrients.

      • Fungi provide structure and moisture retention.

  6. Lichen Types:

    • Crustose: Flat and crusty

    • Foliose: Leaf-like

    • Fruticose: Shrub-like

Topic 2: Plant Diversity

  1. General Characteristics:

    • Multicellular eukaryotes

    • Autotrophic via photosynthesis

    • Cell walls of cellulose

  2. Nonvascular vs. Vascular Plants:

    • Nonvascular: Small, lack xylem and phloem, live in moist areas (e.g., mosses, liverworts).

    • Vascular: Larger, have xylem and phloem for water and nutrient transport (e.g., ferns, gymnosperms).

  3. Plant Life Cycle: Alternation between:

    • Gametophyte: Haploid, produces gametes.

    • Sporophyte: Diploid, produces spores.

  4. Examples:

    • Liverworts, mosses: Nonvascular.

    • Ferns: Seedless vascular plants.

    • Gymnosperms, angiosperms: Seed plants.

  5. Structural Features:

    • Liverworts: Flat, lobed leaves.

    • Mosses: Leafy, upright gametophytes.

    • Ferns: Fronds and sori for spore production.

Topic 3: Overview of Invertebrates

  1. Symmetry:

    • Bilateral: Two equal halves (e.g., arthropods, annelids).

    • Radial: Circular arrangement (e.g., cnidarians, echinoderms).

  2. Phyla Characteristics:

    • Porifera: Sponges, no tissues, filter feeders.

    • Cnidaria: Jellyfish, corals, stinging cells (nematocysts).

    • Platyhelminthes: Flatworms, simple body plan.

    • Annelida: Segmented worms, complete digestive system.

    • Mollusca: Soft bodies, shells (e.g., snails, squids).

    • Echinodermata: Sea stars, radial symmetry in adults.

    • Arthropoda: Exoskeleton, jointed appendages (e.g., insects).

Topic 4: Animal Form and Function

  1. Systems Overview:

    • Digestive: Breakdown and absorption of nutrients.

    • Cardiovascular: Circulation of blood, oxygen, and nutrients.

    • Nervous: Signal transmission, brain function.

    • Endocrine: Hormone secretion for regulation.

    • Urinary/Excretory: Removal of wastes.

    • Respiratory: Gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide).

Topic 5: Bird Identification and Behavior

  1. Identification Factors:

    • Physical features: Size, color, beak shape, wing patterns.

    • Behavior: Flight patterns, feeding habits, calls.

  2. Laboratory Packet (p59-61):

    • Observe outlined birds for characteristic features.

    • Match identification with behaviors and physical traits.