BI 112 LAB: ACOELOMATE ANIMALS

Acoelomate refers to animals that lack a true body cavity or coelom. A coelom is a real
structure, often described as a bag, that forms a cavity that houses most of the organs within
the bodies of higher animals. For example, our own abdominal cavity is a coelom that is lined
by the peritoneum. The phyla we discuss in this lab, however, lack a coelom.
A quick overview of the major acoelomate phyla
Phylum Porifera (sponges)most primitive organization: no tissues; colonialnot
multicellular; no gut (no mouth, no anus)
Phylum Cnidaria (jellyfish, hydrozoans, corals)true tissues but no organs, a blind gut
(incompleteone opening)
Phlyum Platyhelminthes (flatworms=planaria/turbellaria, flukes, tapeworms)tissue &
organs; flat and solid , blind gut (incomplete-one opening)
Phylum Nematoda (round worms)tissues & organs; an internal space
(pseudocoelom=false body cavity), complete gut (mouth and anus)
Phylum Rotifer (wheel animals)2 ciliated wheels near mouth; complete digestive
tract (mouth and anus), pseudocoelom
Phylum Gastrotrichaname means belly hair; covered with hairs and sometimes
spines; resemble ciliates but have obvious organs; complete digestive tract and
pseudocoelum
PHYLUM PORIFERA
The sponges, or poriferans, are the simplest of the animals: they lack tissues and organs. Three
basic cell types are present: surface cells, collar cells, and amoeboid cells. In addition, silica
skeletal structures termed spicules (below, l), provide support, protection from predators, and are
used by zoologists to identify species

.
Sponges are filter-feeding organisms that move unicellular algae, bacteria, and fine particulate
organic matter from the water for nutrition. Water is drawn into the sponge through 50-m holes
pores by the collectively beating of flagellated cells called chonanocytes (collar cells). In ponds

well stocked with sponges, the entire volume of pond cycles through sponges in one week!
Collar cells reside in pores and invaginations. Food particle are trapped in the collar of the
collar cells and these cells transfer ingested food particles to archeocytes or amoeboid cells
(above right x 1000) which digest the particles via phagocytosis, then expel undigested material
into excurrent canals called oscula. In addition to carrying out digestion, amoeboid cells are
totipotent, that is they can differentiate into any of the aforementioned cell types, depending on
which tasks need to be carried out.
In addition to filtering particles, sponges also rely heavily (50-80% of growth in some
species!!) on endosymbiotic green algae called zoochlorellae for nutrition. Zoochlorellae are
housed within virtually all cell types and their chlorophyll is responsible for the bright colors
found in many species of freshwater sponge. In some U.P. ponds, photosynthesis in sponges can
equal that of the entire phytoplankton community!
Sponges reproduce asexually by producing
gemmules (a mass of amoeboid cells surrounded by a
covering resistant to chemical and temperature
extremes) in late fall when light availability for their
symbionts decreases due to ice cover and reduction in
day length.

1. FW sponge tissueUse your live samples of the common freshwater sponge, Spongilla
lacustris to examine for the presence of spicules, amoeboid cells, and zoochlorellae. To
do this, prepare a wet mount of a small piece of sponge tissue from a colony and examine
under low & high power magnification. Spicules are easiest to see in the skeletal
remains of defunct colonies that are often attached to the live fingers. Zoochlorellae are
found within in amoeboid cells. In winter they are easiest to find in gemmules (see
below)
2. FW sponge gemmules Sponges are not active during winter and you can see newly
forming gemmules, which look like greenish brown seeds within the colony (visible to
the naked eye. Use a dissecting scope to get a full view of gemmules. If you make a thin
slice of a gemmule with a razor blade. You can observe gemmulized amoeboid cells with
their algal symbionts.
3. Marine spongesexamine preserved specimens of marine
& freshwater sponges on display
PHYLUM CNIDARIA
The phylum Cnidaria includes the true jellyfish, hydrozoans, &
corals/sea anemones. Cnidarians have specialized encapsulated
stinging thread cells called cnidocytes that are used for capturing
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prey and defense against predators. They can also exist as 2 different feeding forms: 1) a motile
medusa form; and 2) a generally sessile polyp form. True jellyfish spend the majority of their
lives as medusae, whereas hydrozoans, such as freshwater Hydra (see diagram previous page)
occur as polyps. Use a pipette and try to remove a hydra from the bowl. Observe it under
scanning or low power without a cover slip. If available, try feeding Daphnia to the hydra and
observe the use of cnidocytes and tentacles. Green hydras also possess endosymbiotic green
algae (zoochlorellae) to supplement their nutrition.

1. Marine cnidariansdemo of various corals

PHYLUM PLATYHELMINTHES (flatworms)
Characteristics:

Flat & solid (no body cavity)

Gut but no anus
Bilateral w/distinct head
organs

Groups:
Class Turbellaria (Planaria)
Class Trematoda (Flukes)
Class Cestoda (Tapeworms)
The phylum Platyhelminthes are known commonly as the flatworms. Most are parasites, but
some, such as the freshwater planarian Dugesia tigrina are predators of other aquatic
macroinvertebrates. Prey items are engulfed using a protrusible pharynx (figure following
page) and undigested food is expelled through the pharynx as well. Planarians are also highly
negatively phototactic, and light is avoided by using its eyespots.
1. Planarian behaviorObserve live
planaria under the dissecting scope. If
food is available, observe how planaria
uses its protrusible pharynx during
feeding.
2. Observe examples of the two parasitic
classes of flatworms, flukes and
tapeworms, on display
PHYLUM NEMATODA (Roundworms)
Characteristics
body cavity
(unspecialized, unlined space)
complete gut w/mouth and anus
1. Observe various examples of roundworms on display. Make a wet mount of vinegar eels.
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2. Profile: Brainworm (Paralaphostrongylus tenuis)

Paralaphostrongylus tenuis, commonly called brainworm, is a parasitic nematode of white-tailed
deer. Although it has little apparent effect on its normal host white-tailed deer, it causes serious
neurological disorders in other ruminants (abnormal hosts) such as moose (Alces alces), caribou
(Rangifer tarandus), and elk (Cervus elaphus). For example, from 1985 to 1989, brainworm was
responsible for 38% of the mortality in moose from the U.P.
P. tenuis has a life cycle that requires both an intermediate and final host. Sexual reproduction
occurs in the latter. The adult worms live in the subdural space closely associated with the
venous sinuses of the brain into which the female worm releases her eggs. The eggs are carried
to the lungs were they are trapped in the alveolar capillary beds, embryonate, and hatch into first
stage larvae. First-stage larvae move into the alveoli and up the bronchial tree by ciliary action.
When they reach the pharynx, the larvae are swallowed and eventually leave the host deer in the
feces. Early larval development occurs in terrestrial gatropods (snails and slugs).
In the external environment, first-stage larvae actively invade the foot of the gastropod either
when the gastropod moves across the fecal pellet deposited by an infected deer or when the
larvae are washed off the pellet and come in contact with a gastropod. The developing larvae
molt twice within the gastropod before attaining infectivity as third-stage larvae. Deer and other
ruminants acquire infection by accidentally ingesting an infected gastropod. The third-stage
larvae emerge from the tissues of the gastropod in the abomassum of its new host, penetrates the
gastrointestinal wall, crosses the peritoneal cavity and then invades the spinal cord via a
peripheral nerve. The growing larvae migrate anteriorly in the neural parenchyma from the
spinal cord to the brain until they reach the brain and subsequently the subdural spaces of the
brain. Within about three months after ingesting the snail, the worms have settled into the
subdural spaces, matured, copulated, and produces eggs. Adult worms are 2-4 long.
Procedure
P. tenuis larvae will be harvested from the fecal pellets using a modified Baerman Technique.
A. Principle: larvae are stimulated to move out of the fecal pat by water but are unable to
swim against the force of gravity. They collect at the bottom of the funnel
B. Protocol:
1. Place a funnel with an attached piece of rubber tubing in a ring stand.
Below this apparatus, place a bowl in case water is spilled or leaks. Fill the neck
of the funnel and the closed-off tubing with tepid tap water. Check for leaks.
2. Place approximately 40 g of deer pellets in a double layer of cheese cloth and
close with a rubber band or string
3. Place the fecal tea-bag in the funnel and add tepid water until the feces are just
covered
4. Be careful not to let cheesecloth or string dangle over the edgeit will wick
water out!
5. Let sit for 16-24 hours
6. Remove the clamp and collect the first 10-20 ml of water from the bottom-about 1 into a test tube.
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7. Importantlet the tube sit undisturbed in a rack for 30 minutes!!

8. Use a micro pipette and draw a few ml of the sediment from the BOTTOM..
9. Add to slide with coverslip. Search for brainworms under low power.
the brainworms whip back and forth, frequently coiling up or taking on a j-shape.
You may also notice a dorsal spine on their posterior end.

Figure 1. Lifecycle of brainworm.

PHYLUM ROTIFERA
Rotifers are usually highly abundant microinvertebrates
that are found in virtually all types of freshwater habitats.
Rotifers are commonly referred to as wheel bearers
because of the presence of a corona, which is a rotating
wheel of cilia used in filter feeding and locomotion. Food
particles are drawn in and processed in a gizzard-like organ
called a mastax, which is lined with jaw-like structures.
The pumping motion of the mastax is often very
conspicuous. Find a rotifer in the jars. At first glance,
rotifers resemble ciliates, but notice that rotifers have internal
organs and jointed bodies (usually w/ a spike or two on their
posterior).