Blog 13: Compare the circulation of a segmented worm a starfish and a grasshopper

Segmented Worm: The segmented worms, like the earthworm, are more advanced in their construction than flatworms as they possess a complete digestive tract with an anus to allow undigested matter to pass from the body. They also have a circulatory system including hearts that pump the blood through the system and also have an excretory system to rid the body of toxic products of respiration.

Starfish: The starfish has radial canals that go through all the legs and join in the center to make the water vascular system that functions as a circulatory system, waste removal and more.

Grasshopper: Grasshoppers have open circulatory systems, with most of the body fluid filling body cavities and appendages. The one closed organ, the dorsal vessel, extends from the head through the thorax to the hind end. It is a continuous tube with two regions: the heart, which is restricted to the abdomen; and the aorta, which extends from the heart to the head through the thorax.

Blog 12 Compare and contrast the animals and plants you have dissected so far based on one organ system, i.e. reproduction how are they alike

We have dissected a worm which was very disgusting, a grasshopper , a flower which was very beautiful and starfish which was also very nasty.
These four living species are very different from eachother. The worm is distinctly different from the grasshopper because the worm has no bones or structure while the grasshopper has both. Something they do have in common is that they're both creepy crawlers. The starfish and the flower also have little in common. They both need water to survive. The flower is beautiful and smells good while the starfish smells like fish.

Blog 11 What are at least three ways to prevent soil erosion?

One way to prevent soil erosion on residential landscaped gardens and vegetation and crop properties is to plant flowers, trees and crops over the affect soil. Plants act as protective shields to the soil lessening the impact of rainfall, wind, excessive watering and ice melt. The plants will also help stabilize the soil and prevent it from becoming prone to soil erosion. Some popular soil erosion prevention plants are: wild flowers, crop veggies, small trees and herbs. Plants which crawl up and spread instead of growing upwards are also great soil erosion prevention plants.

One common product which are most commonly used on residential properties, vegetation crops and vacant land is matting. Matting is available in wood fibres which make it environmentally friendly and biodegradable. The matting will be placed on the soils surface and prevent erosion from occurring. The matting will allow plants, crops and trees to grow through it and the soil will be healthy and stabilized. Matting can be cut to size to suit your property.

Another soil erosion prevention method which is beneficial to the soil and plants which live in it, is applying a layer of mulch and fertilizer over the soil. The mulch and fertilizer layer will assist the soil to soak in water slowly and it will also lessen the impact of rainfall as it penetrates through to the soil. The mulch and fertilizer layer will also stabilize the affect soil by regaining its PH levels to be healthy and neutralized. Any type of mulch or fertilizer can be used to prevent soil erosion.