Noah Golestani, Alec Wilson, Nikolai Bottitta, Prakhar Pandey, Thejas Kadur
Arthropoda
Spiders
Spiders have two key facets to their impressive Respiratory systems, which include Book Lungs and Tracheae. Tracheae are very small tubes in which the spider can transport air to the different tissues in the body. In addition, there is an opening in front of the spinnerets called spiracles, in which the air enters is permissible. This type of Respiration is common in the Arthropoda phylum. In particular, we studied and dissected grasshoppers, which also had spiracles. The Book Lungs are located in the cavities of the abdomen and through a small slit, the air is permissible through the cavities. Then, oxygen passes through the blood of the spider as it circulates in the lung(s). Most spiders have only one lung, however there are some that have two.
Crayfish
Crayfish are a type of arthropod that live in freshwater and are related to the lobster family. They are also referred to as crawdads and crawfish. These arthropods have an extremely odd way of breathing. Their gills are on the outside of the body (located between the carapace and body wall) and are connected to the legs of the crayfish. Therefore, the more a crayfish walks, the more it breathes. However, if it wants to, it can walk on land and breathe, because it has a small pocket within itself where it stores water when it needs it (Arthropods).
Bees
Bees do not have lungs inside their bodies. However, they do have a system of trachea, which carry oxygen to all the cells, and carbon dioxide away from all the cells. They are connected by spiracles, like in grasshoppers and spiders. While they are at rest, respiration occurs by diffusion. In active bees, air is actively pumped, causing a rapid stream of air flow through the tracheal system. This is why their abdomen pulses when they are doing activities such as flying and pollinating flowers.
Air sacs make it easier for this movement of air through the tracheae to occur. Air sacs can occur in almost any part of the system. In rigid structures such as the head and thorax, the air sacs can be permanently expanded, acting as supplies of air. In the abdomen however, the air sacs only inflate and contract, leaving no permanent changes. The diagrams below illustrate the air sacs in the abdomen of a honey-bee worker.
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To the right: air sacs in the abdomen of a honey-bee worker. The tubes (or circles) indicate the main tracheae entering/leaving the air sacs.
Fun Fact: Instead of hemoglobin, a molecule called cytochrome enhances the gas exchange throughout the body of the bee.
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The Phylum Arthropoda is considered to be more evolved when compared to the phyla mentioned before this one. This is because they contain tubes called tracheae which allow for the transportation of air from the surrounding environment to the inside of an organism. This introduces a new mechanism for air to be transported into the body, one that is slightly more complex than previous mechanisms. This is the first time we have seen a distinction between the respiratory and circulatory systems in all of the phyla previously mentioned, making this phylum much more efficient.
A waspacious wasp wasping wasply
A gorgeous band of ants feasting on some kind of pastry
Belts look really good on crabs.
Belive it or not you are looking at a grasshoppers trachea. this is the inside of one of the many wholes along the abdomen of a grasshopper that allow it to breathe.
More specifically, a splayed view of the gills. Notice the feathery structure.
Belts look really good on crabs.