Lab 3 Journal
On the phylogenetic tree the common earthworm (or Lumbricus terrestris) can be found by locating eukaryotes, continuing on to animals, fungi and more, locating bilaterally symmetrical animals, then to the clade protostomes, then spiralia, then trochozoa, reaching the phylum annelid, to the class clitellates, order haplotaxida, onto the Genus Lumbricus and then finally to the species. This genus contains hundreds of species of worm.
All of the observed species in my group project “Decomposers of the Northern Hemisphere” have adapted to feed on dead organic matter, breaking it down to its smallest parts so it can be recycled back into the ecosystem. We could not survive without the nutrients this provides. Fungi, for example, use the broken down nitrogen in order to make essential proteins.
One of the species I found and observed known as the stinking dapperling (or Lepiota cristata) is largely believed to be a poisonous mushroom; it has adapted to produce toxins which are harmful to organisms that attempt to consume them. They use this as a defense mechanism, which is demonstrated through their stinky smell.
May O'Connell
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