This document discusses invertebrates and their role in aquatic ecosystems. It begins by defining animals and explaining that the term refers to an entire kingdom, not just four-legged mammals. It then lists the domains and kingdoms of life, identifying plants, animals, fungi and protists. The animal kingdom is broken down into invertebrate phyla including sponges, corals, worms, mollusks, echinoderms and arthropods. The document provides tips for finding invertebrates in the wild, markets, labs and suppliers, and concludes by discussing investigating pond life and collecting pond water samples.

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“Invertebrates & Aquatic
Ecosystems
with Scope-On-A-Rope ”
Adrienne Lopez
LSU Scope-On-A-Rope Coordinator

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What is an animal?
• a multicellular, heterotrophic organism that
develops from an embryo derived from
gametes and whose cells lack cell walls (from
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Zoology, 1991, Allaby, ed.)
• encompasses a wide diversity of organisms
• children tend to associate the term “animal”
with four-legged land mammals (especially
pets)
• it is important for students understand that
the term “animal” refers to an entire kingdom
in the taxonomy of living things

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Which of these are animals?

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Which of these are animals?

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Which of these are animals?
fungus
plant
protist

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eubacteria
archaea
eukarya
Domains of Life Eukaryotic Kingdoms
plants
animals
fungi
protists

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invertebrates
Animal Kingdom Invertebrate Phyla
verts
sponges
coral/ jellies
worms (3)
molluscs
echinoderms
arthropods

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Where can I find invertebrates?
• In the wild - go to a local pond or coastal area
• Seafood market - live crabs, crawfish, and
shrimp are often available
• Pet store - hermit crabs, snails, anemones are
cheap and easy to maintain
• Universities - many labs donate organisms
they’ve caught when they are done with them
• Catalog - Carolina Biological http://www.carolina.com or Gulf
Specimen Marine Supply http://www.gulfspecimen.org

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Investigating Louisiana Pond
Life

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Pond Water Collection Tips
• Look for signs of life (plants and animals)
• Collect water using a ladle or disposable
container, making sure to get some sediment
from the bottom
• Use tongs to collect aquatic plants - look for
algae and floating or rooted plants
• Don’t leave your container sealed with a lid
for long - give your organisms light and air