Ending Bio 11

Biology 11 was a great experience, learning from bacteria to animals. Some key concepts that were learned were evolution, being the main and the most important topic. Organisms have developed from history which we see through the organisms body cavity, body form and body symmetry. The classification meaning taxonomy was another key component in biology 11. Some main concepts that were learned in biology 11 were how organisms reproduce, eat, breath, circulate and remove wastes. Also, another main concept was viruses and how they affect your body. Bacteria was another concept where we learned about the different bacteria during the microbiology unit. The plants unit was not as interesting. An eye-catching thing was that plants also have female and male reproductive systems just like humans. I think the one thing I would change about biology 11 is contributing more in the dissections and not getting nauseous by looking at them. Through out the dissections, I think I felt more comfortable except for the rat dissection. That dissection was very disgusting for me and I could not stand it. Some interesting parts were going to the Aquarium field trip and touching organisms that I would never would have thought of touching such as crab, starfish and urchins. The urchin was the most amazing for me because it moved in my hand and tickled me and I didn't freak out. During the bacteria unit, we went and found bacteria around the school and let it grow for a week in ideal conditions. When the results came, it was thought-provoking to see what had the most growth. This was my semester in biology 11 where I learning tons of stuff which I did not know because I never really put thought into seeing how other organisms live. It's a course where you learn about the billion other species living in the same place as you.

Aquarium Field Trip

 

 

 

African Penguins

 

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

These African Penguins were at the Vancouver Aquarium. I found them interesting when I saw them at Penguin Point. One distinguishing characteristics is they have pink glands above each eye which becomes more pink as they are hotter because there is more blood flowing through. Also, they moult in November and December which means they only remain on land for those two months. After they grow new plumage(feathers) they go to the sea. They have waterproof feathers as another one of their distinguishing characteristics. Lastly, African Penguins have the ability to reduce their heart-rate so they can go deeper into the water and last there for almost two minutes to prey on fish/birds. These are the only penguins which live in Africa. 

 

 

 

 

 

Arthropods

Grasshoppers are interesting insects because they have an exoskeleton. I find that interesting because they can take off there exoskeleton when they are growing and developing. Also, the three pairs of legs  and their hind legs are the most powerful. The short-horned grasshoppers can "sing" by rubbing their hind legs together which no other insect can do. Grasshoppers have ears on their bellies, on each side of the first segment. Another thing that is interesting is that fossils have been found that they existing long before dinosaurs. Lastly, they spit brown liquid to defend themselves. The abdomen contains most of the organs. The three distinct facts are they have an exoskeleton, made of chitin, jointed body and two pairs of appendages.