Biodiversity
in Animals
Phylum
Level of classification below kingdom
Phylogenetic trees:
All evolved from
Based on body plan – branching diagram
common ancestor ->
layout of body showing evolutionary
changes -> species
relationships
6 phyla: Porifera,
Cnidaria,
Platyhelminthes,
Annelida, Arthropoda
and Chordata
Symmetry – mirror image of halves
Asymmetrical, radial, longitudinal/bilateral
*Asymmetrical animals are sessile = permanently attached to substrate
Sessile or motile
Definitive
body
parts: top,
middle,
bottom
Cephalisation – level of brain development & sensory
involvement
Sessile organisms don’t move -> no need for
complex system & senses
High level in bilateral animals -> they move ->
have to see in front of them & respond to stimuli
e.g. food & danger
Symmetry advantages & disadvantages
Asymmetrical Radial Bilateral
Advantages • Food & oxygen • Body obtain food • Cephalisation ->
absorbed by whole from all directions sensory organs
body • Stimuli observed • Fast & effective
in all directions movement
Disadvantages • Sessile • Slow/ineffective • May have blind
• Absent/Ineffective movement spots due to
movement • No cephalisation cephalisation
& nervous system
Number of tissue layers developed from embryo
• Germ layers: layers produced by
embryonic development of different kinds
of cells
• 2 types:
1. Diploblastic – 2 layers, mesoglea = non-
living layer => most primitive e.g.
sponges Endoderm -> digestive canal etc.
2. Triploblastic – 3 layers, tissue & Mesoderm -> muscles, coelom
specialised organs Ectoderm -> epidermis & nervous
system
Number of
openings in the gut
• One – incomplete digestive
system => mouth & anus in same
opening
*also called gastrovascular cavity
• Two – complete digestive system
=> 1 for mouth and 1 for anus
*also called alimentary canal
Coelom –
body cavity
• Acoelomate – no body
cavity
• Pseudocoelomate – have
body cavity but it doesn’t
form from mesoderm
• Coelomate – have body
cavity with complete
lining
Blood
System
None – no circulatory system => no blood
Open – blood fill entire body cavity
Closed – blood confined in blood vessels
Porifera Cnidaria Platyhelminthes Annelida Arthropoda Chordata
e.g. sponges e.g. jelly- e.g. tapeworm e.g. e.g. insects e.g
fish earthwor humans
ms
Symmetry Asymmetrica Radial Bilateral Bilateral Bilateral Bilateral
l
Cephalisation Absent Absent Present Present Present Present
Tissue layers Diploblastic Diploblastic Triploblastic Triploblas Triploblastic Triploblas
tic tic
Openings in None One One Two Two Two
the gut
Coelom Acoelomate Acoelomat Acoelomate Coelomat Coelomate Coelomat
e e e
Blood system None None None Closed Open Closed
Porifera - sponges
•Most primitive
•Aquatic
•Asymmetrical & sessile
•Multicellular but no organs
•Opening at top = osculum -> mouth & anus
•Endoskeleton of spicules – lime/silica
•No nervous system
•Food = bacteria – from water
•=> Filter feeder
Porifera
BODY STRUCTURE REPRODUCTION ROLE
>Vase-like >Asexual >Habitat for crabs, sea
>2 layers of cells >Broken off pieces snails -> hide from
1. Inner = collar cells – produce new sponge predators
capture food when attaching to >Food source e.g. turtles
2. Outer = flat epithelial substrate >Harvested to make bath
cells sponges – threatens
- Divided by jelly layer existence
(amoebocytes) with
spicules – digest food
- Spicules -> flexible
skeleton
Cnidaria
Coral reefs secrete
Radially symmetrical substance that
Aquatic
– sessile or mobile hardens into coral –
protection
2 body forms:
Tentacled and stinging • Polyp – sessile e.g. hydras,
cells – poison to sea anemones No blood system
paralyse prey • Medusa – mobile e.g.
jellyfish
Cnidaria
Body structure Reproduction Role
>Diploblastic – no coelomate but >Asexual - budding >Carnivores
coelenteron >Coral reefs keep oceans healthy
Endoderm form
- Epithelial, flagellated, gland,
amoeboid, sensory, interstitial
cells
Ectoderm form
- Stinging cell, Musculo-epithelial,
sensory, interstitial cells
>Tentacles grab food
Platyhelminthes
• Multicellular
• Bilateral symmetry
• Acoelomate
• Flat bodies
Platyhelminthes
Body structure Reproduction Role
>Triploblastic >Hermaphrodite => self- >Regulate algae &
Endoderm – digestive system fertilisation zooplankton populations
Mesoderm – reproductive
system, muscles & blood
system
Ectoderm – nervous system,
protective layer
>No body cavity
Tape worm/
Taenia Solium
Life Cycle
Human = Host
Pig = Vector
Annelida
• Segmented worms
• Bilateral symmetry
• Coelom with coelomic fluid =>
hydrostatic skeleton
• Closed circulatory system
• Cephalisation present
Annelida
Body structure Reproduction Role
>mouth on segment 1, >Hermaphrodite -> >Fertilise & aerate soil
anus on last segment external fertilisation in
>prostomium = head -> cocoon
feel & taste
>anterior side has
concentration of sensory
cells
>segment 32-37 =
clitellum -> reproduction
Arthropoda
• Exoskeleton of chitin/calcium
carbonate
• Bilateral symmetry
• Coelomate
• Cephalisation
• Continuous digestive system
• Open blood system
Arthropoda
Body structure Reproduction Role
>Triploblastic >Unisexual => sexual >ectoparasites e.g. ticks
Ectoderm form >Internal & eggs laid >vectors e.g. mosquito
- skin, anus, nervous system & >maintain health of
sensory organs ecosystem
Mesoderm form
- muscles, circulatory system,
excretory & reproductive
system
Endoderm form
- Digestive system & air
passages
>Segmented
>Mouth & legs adapted to
environment & feeding
Chordata
• Endoskeleton of bone & cartilage
• Spinal cord with vertebrae
• Bilateral symmetry
• High cephalisation
• Coelomate
• 5 classes: fish, reptiles, mammals, birds, amphibians
• Nervous system with brain protected by skull
• Closed blood system
Chordata
Body structure Reproduction Role
>Triploblastic >Sexual >Predators control
Ectoderm form >Internal/External numbers
- skin, anus, nervous >Prey provide food
system & sensory
organs
Mesoderm form
- muscles, blood
system, skeleton,
digestive &
reproductive system
Endoderm
- Lining & airways
All animals not members of
vertebrates – no backbone
Do not have internal
Invertebrates
endoskeleton
ALL PHYLA EXCEPT
CHORDATA
Pollination
Insect-pollination
Light-coloured petals
Nectar produced as food reward
Broad open flowers for landing
space
Fragrant to attract pollinators
Sticky pollen & stigmas – cling to
insects body & transfer successfully
Decomposition
Breaking down dead matter to recycle nutrients
Flies lay eggs on dead carcasses ->
maggots
Dung beetles lay eggs in dung to provide
food
Termites break down wood into sawdust -
> help humus formation in the soil
*Humus – organic matter that increase
plant growth = natural fertiliser
=> Recycling dead bodies -> other
organisms can re-use those nutrients
Aerating soil
Ants & termites building nests in soil ->
tunnels -> aerate soil -> improve soil
structure -> better drainage
Earthworms
-Enrich soil with nitrogen & phosphates ->
robust plant growth
-Mix soil layers
-Grind up soil particles for finer texture
-Neutralise soil pH
-Dead bodies increase humus content
Invertebrates in the
ocean
Sponges help with N, C and P recycling
Coral reefs provide safe place for
growing fish & protect shore from wave
action
Symbiotic relationships
-Sea anemones on hermit crabs
Whales depend on invertebrates for
food
Negative
influences
Parasites: tapeworm, bilharzia
Vectors: arthropods e.g. ticks,
mites, mosquitoes, tsetse fly
Ectoparasites: weaken animals
-> anaemic e.g. ticks
Crop pests: destroy crops ->
food shortages e.g. locusts
