Biology: The Dynamics of Life, California Edition

CLASSIFYING AND COMPARING WORMS

Introduction

What do you think of when someone mentions the word worm? Perhaps the first thing that comes to your mind is the average garden-variety earthworm. After all, a worm is a worm, right? Actually, there are three different types of worms—flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms. Each type belongs to a different classification in the animal kingdom. How are each of these worms classified? What are the characteristics of each these invertebrates? How are they like one another? How are they different from one another? In this WebQuest, you will find the answers to these questions by researching the different types of worms.

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Task

Your job in this WebQuest is to learn about the different phyla of worms. You'll investigate flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms, and describe and compare the characteristics of each type of animal. Once you've conducted some research to increase your knowledge of worms, you'll complete the Worm Comparison worksheet to record the similarities and differences among these three types of invertebrates. You'll also find a specific example of each of these three types of invertebrates and describe its characteristics.

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Time

2 days to answer the set of questions and complete the Worm Comparison worksheet

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Process

First, read through the following set of questions before you begin your Internet research. As you explore each site, look for answer to the questions.

Questions about Classifying and Comparing Worms

1. How are flatworms classified, and what are their characteristics?
2. How are roundworms classified, and what are their characteristics?
3. How are segmented worms classified, and what are their characteristics?
4. In what ways are flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms alike?
5. In what ways are flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms different?
   

Worm Comparrison worksheet PDF (15K)
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader®)

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Resources

Look at the Web sites provided here to find the information that will help you answer questions about different types of worms, and to gather information to use as you complete the Worm Comparison worksheet.

• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/platyhelminthes.html
  This page, from the University of Michigan, describes flatworms.
  
• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/nematoda.html
  This page, from the University of Michigan, describes roundworms.
  
• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/annelida.html
  This page, from the University of Michigan, describes segmented worms.
  
• http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/w/x/wxm15/Online
  /Zoology%20Unit/Annelida/annelida_lec00.htm#Classification
  Find out more about the characteristics of segmented worms by visiting this page from Pennsylvania State University.
  
• http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/w/x/wxm15/Online
  /Zoology%20Unit/Nematoda/nematoda_lec00.htm
  Find out more about the characteristics of roundworms by visiting this page from Pennsylvania State University.
  
• http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/w/x/wxm15/Online/
• Zoology%20Unit/Worm%20Phyla/worms_lec00.htm
  Find out more about the characteristics of flatworms by visiting this page from Pennsylvania State University.
  
• http://www.howe.k12.ok.us/~jimaskew/bworm.htm
  Visit this page from the Howe Public Schools in Howe, Oklahoma to compare flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms.
  
• http://www.cssd11.k12.co.us/dohnts/Biology/bio07nt.htm#round
  Information about flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms are found on this page from the Colorado Springs School District.
  
• http://www.scsc.k12.ar.us/1999bst/Members/ArnoldL/
  supporting_information.htm
  Compare flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms at this page from the South Central Service Cooperative in Camden, Arkansas.

Next, use the Worm Comparison worksheet to compare the similarities and differences among flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms. You will use the worksheet to collect information about the three different phyla of worms, including descriptions of three species, one for each of the types of worms you’ve investigated.

Review the rubric to understand how your worksheet will be evaluated.

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Conclusion

In the process of completing this WebQuest, you've learned about different types of worms. You have discovered how flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms are classified. You have investigated the characteristics of each type of worm as well as compared these three invertebrates for similarities and differences. You have completed the Worm Comparison worksheet to relate flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms. You also described a specific example of each type of worm.

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