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Theme Objectives and Content
Objectives
EXPLAIN what are the most frequently encountered types of animals and plants and their defining characteristics
EXPLORE the range of species that make up each of these main groupings of living organisms, both animals and plants
EXAMINE in some detail the individual species in these groups with an emphasis on those found in the Sidmouth area
Life on planet Earth is complex! However, when analysed, there are just four dominant types of life that the keen observer of nature will encounter in the 'field; tetrapoid and anthropoid animals, and angiosperm and cryptogam plants. Difficult terms but easy to understand at the highest level and this topic has a thread for each that will help clarify these 'phylum' categories. A basic understanding lays the foundation for identifying most creatures and organisms that one will encounter.
The Tree of Life is a foundational concept that bridges ancient mysticism and modern hard science, serving as a map of the soul, a pillar of the universe, or a mathematical diagram of every living thing on Earth. In a scientific context, it is known as a phylogenetic tree, which illustrates how every living organism evolved from a common ancestor known as the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) roughly 3.5 to 3.8 billion years
Tetrapods are four legged animals ("tetra" = 4 and "pods" = feet) and include mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. But birds have two feet so how are they 'tetrapods'? That is just one of the many facts revealed by the articles in this thread which aims to provide a general introduction to this group of animals.
Arthropods are the planet's most diverse animal group, characterised by jointed legs, segmented bodies, and a hard exoskeleton. The group includes the classes of insects, arachnids, myriapods, and crustaceans. This thread details , detailing their unique anatomical features, life cycles, and ecological contributions.The thread also examines insect galls as a fascinating example of insect-plant coevolution and briefly discusses molluscs, a distinct phylum of invertebrates often mistaken for arthropods, emphasising their own significant ecological roles.
This thread provides an overview of various 'flowering' plant types, collectively known as angiosperms. It considers defining characteristics, ecological significance, and importance to human life. The articles differentiate herbaceous flora in general, hedgerow shrubs, broadleaf trees, conifers, and the graminoids: grasses, rushes, and sedges detailing specific features of each plant such as the reproductive structures of anatomical forms. The content underscores the vital roles plants play in ecosystems, including oxygen production, habitat provision, soil stability, and their diverse uses in human society, ranging from food and medicine to construction and cultural symbolism.
This thread explores cryptogams, a diverse group of organisms that reproduce via spores rather than seeds or flowers. Cryptogams include both Pteridophytes, commonly called ferns and horsetails, and Bryophytes that encompass mosses and liverworts which are non-vascular nature and have a preference for damp habitats. This group also includes Thallophytes such as fungi, lichens (a symbiotic partnership of fungus and alga), and slime moulds.
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