Observing the Live Earthworm Essay Example

Observing the Live Earthworm Kingdom Animalia is a diverse kingdom that contains many types of worms. The phylum Annelida includes segmented worms such as Earthworms, Clamworms, and Leeches. Earthworms play a huge role in the environment. They have two openings, a mouth and an anus. They feed through the mouthpharynxesophagus crop (stores food)gizzard (grinds food)intestineanus (excretion of waste). The hypothesis predicted for this lab is that Earthworms will respond differently when came in contact with water and vinegar. To test this hypothesis, the following materials are needed for an experiment: paper towels, live earthworms, dissecting pans, a container filled with vinegar, a container filled with water, cotton swabs, and a dropper. To start the experiment, obtain a live earthworm from the lab instructor and place it on a moist paper towel. Observe the movements of the worm. Using the index finger, touch the posterior end of the worm, and then touch the anterior side of the worm. Observe the reactions by the worm. Next, using the dropper, moisten the earthworm slightly with water and observe the reactions. Then, soak a cotton swab with water and hold about one centimeter away from the posterior side of the worm for thirty seconds. Record the response on the lab sheet. Then, soak a cotton swab with vinegar and hold it one centimeter away from the posterior side of the worm for thirty seconds. Record the response on the lab sheet. The results were that when the worm was touched at the anterior end, there was no response and when it was touched at the posterior side, the body contracted. When a cotton swab was soaked with water and was held at the posterior side, the worm stopped moving. When a cotton swab was soaked with vinegar and was held at the posterior side, the worm tried to escape the smell of the vinegar and also tried not to make contact with it. The hypothesis, worms will respond differently when came in contact with water and vinegar was