Invertebrate Anatomy in Practice

Timetable

Duration: 35h (Conversation classes: 5×2h; Practical classes: 5×5h); 1 group

Module aim (aims)

The study focuses on three invertebrate groups: Gastropoda, Arthropoda, and Annelida.  The course aims to learn the anatomy of these groups through comparison and to explain the functionality of specific systems—nervous, vascular, and reproductive—in selected groups. The study also involves ecological issues, such as the impact of parasites or habitat characteristics reflected in anatomical traits, especially in the reproductive system. Moreover, students will be familiarized with the differences in the anatomy of the circulatory and nervous system in three developmental stages (larva, pupa, and imago) of holometabola insects.

Conversation classes will provide a strong theoretical foundation in invertebrate anatomy. This knowledge will be applied in practical class courses, which will focus primarily on dissections and the identification of specific systems and structures.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Syllabus

Conversation classes:

Class 1. Subject: Mollusca: Comparison of freshwater pulmonata and prosobranch organization.

Gaining a basic theoretical knowledge of anatomical organization in freshwater pulmonate and prosobranch gastropods, including the location and functional value of vascular, nervous, and reproductive systems and structures.

Class 2. Subject: Mollusca: Anatomy of pulmonata land snails.

Gaining a basic theoretical knowledge of anatomical organization in land snail pulmonate gastropods, focusing on the location of vascular, nervous, and reproductive systems. Gaining knowledge of reproductive systems in mollusks.

Class 3. Subject: Arthropoda – nervous system

Getting basic knowledge about the anatomy of structures of the central nervous system in different groups of insects. Moreover, the role of neuroendocrine structures will be presented.

Class 4. Subject: Arthropoda – circulatory system

Getting the basic theoretical knowledge of the structure and functioning of the insect circulatory system. In addition, the functioning of pacemaker cells will be discussed.

Class 5. Subject:  Annelida – anatomy of visceral organs

Familiarization with the organization of earthworm visceral organs and presentation of the implication of segmental body structure.

Practical classes:

Class 1. Subject: Mollusca: Comparison of freshwater pulmonata and prosobranch organization.
Students will learn about the anatomical differences between pulmonate and prosobranch snails, including their respiratory, vascular, and nervous systems. The study will also involve reproductive systems: hermaphroditism in Lymnaea stagnalis and dioecy in Bithynia tentaculata. Since L. stagnalis snails are frequently infected by parasites, we will check for infections through dissections and examine how the presence of parasites impacts the morphological traits of the snails. Students will work with alcohol-preserved material.

Class 2. Subject: Mollusca: Anatomy of pulmonata land snails.
Students will learn about the anatomical differences between snails (Cepaea sp.) and slugs (Arion vulgaris). Through dissections, they will study differences in reproductive systems and acquire knowledge of phally polymorphic species. We will compare morph frequency in two populations of Vertignidae snails and discuss the basis of phally polymorphism. Students will work with alcohol-preserved material.

Class 3. Subject: Arthropoda – nervous system

Students will learn about the anatomy of the insect nervous system. During the class they will dissect the structures of the central nervous system – the brain, the ventral nerve cord, and the retrocerebral complex which is a neuroendocrine structure. Moreover, the dissection will be done on three developmental stages to show what changes occur during development (for example the fusion of segmental ganglia of ventral nerve cord) in a holometabola insect – the Zophobas atratus beetle.

Class 4. Subject: Arthropoda – circulatory system

Students will learn about the organization of the circulatory system of three developmental stages of holometabola insects (Zophobas atratus) as well as the heart hemodynamics. During the class, students will do the preparation of semi-isolated hearts with preserved ability to contract to show the endogenic activity of muscle cells and the presence of peace-maker cells in insect hearts.

Class 5: Subject: Annelida

During the class, students get knowledge about the organization and anatomy of visceral organs in Annelida (earthworm as an example), particularly the reproductive, nervous, and circulatory systems. Moreover, the segmental body structure will be also examined.

Reading list

V. Fretter, A. Graham British prosobranch molluscs. Their functional anatomy and ecology, xix, 820p. London: Ray Society, 1994.

B.M. Pokryszko. The Vertiginidae of Poland (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Pupilloidea) - a systematic monograph.   Annales Zoologici 43: 133-257.

Chapman R. F. The Insects — Structure and Function. 5^th Edition. New York, 2013.

Rouse G. W., Pleijel F., Ekin T. Annelida. Oxford University Press, 2022