Platyhelminthes





Life Cycle of a Tapeworm

MOVIE OF THE LIFE CYCLE-
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Ecology Connections
 * //__Systems of Tapeworms:__//**
 * 1) Tapeworms are known as Cestodes
 * 2) Cestodes have evolved to adapt to the digestive system of their hosts guts.
 * 3) Aiding this process the entire surface of their body is covered with microscopic wrinkles or projections which greatly increase the surface area available for the absorption of nutrients.
 * 4) No true body captivity
 * 5) No control system, and no true way of expressing their brain power.
 * 6) BODIES OF TAPEWORMS
 * 7) Contain no body cavity, they also have organ systems such as nervous system that has a small brain. They have a flame cell which is used to take away the waste in their bodies. No digestive system since they use the host to digest their food.
 * 8) They can reproduce asexually or sexually because they have no real traits. They do not have lungs/gills, and no skeletal system since they are not motile.
 * 9) They also have no circulatory system, and the muscular system is found in the scolex.

**LIFE PROCESSES OF THE PLATYHELMINTHES**- Refrence Diagram 2
The life process of the tapeworm consist of a repeating cycle. The cycle begins with the scolex or head of the tapeworm attaching to the small intestine of the host. This leads to individual parts of the tapeworm called proglottids which break free from the tapworm. These proglottids are individual reproductive units. Once the proglottid is not attached to the tapeworm body anymore, the proglottid will pass with the next bowl movement pf the perticular animal releasing the reproductive unit into the surrounding area to move around since they are mobile. As each proglottid moves, eggs are released. A packet of around 6 to 12 eggs cemented together per proglottid. Most animals pass their bowl movements on grass vegetation, this sets up a breeding ground for the eggs from the proglottid to be consumed by other animals surrounding the grassland. Animals such as, rabbits, mice or rats will consume the eggs or flea larvae will consume the eggs allowing the egg to hatch resulting in the infection of the host. If the host were to be eaten by another animal, that animal would be infected with the tapeworm returning back to the step where the scolex of the tapworm attaches to the intestinal wall of the small intestine growing its own chain of proglottids. The life cycle of the tapworm can then be repeated once the proglottids break free and pass with the next bowl movement.

METHOD OF ACQUIRING NUTRITION-
The tapeworm lives in partially digested food in the small intestine of their host. Food for the tapeworm is absorbed through the their body surface. The tapeworm and its host live at peace, however the tapeworm does absorb our digested food across its skin. With that being said, the more the tapeworm absorbs, the larger the tapeworm will become. Since tapeworms are flatworms, this means that there is more surface area for nutrients to be absorbed due to the structure of the worm.

Ecological Niche
The home of a tapeworm changes while the tapeworm changes. A tapeworm spends its pre-life in the feces of its definitive host. Then a flea or other animal being the intermediate host will then come along and eat the eggs. By living in the intermediate host it triggers the eggs to hatch. It develops in the animal’s small intestines. Then the tapeworm will grow into an adult. The tapeworm will then be eaten by a definitive host.
 * ~ ====Intermediate Host==== ||~ ====Definitive Host==== ||
 * Pigs || Dogs ||
 * Fleas || Humans ||
 * Sheep || Cats ||
 * Goats ||  ||

**Evolutionary History-**
The tapeworm has evolved from a mollusca family. The molluscua family were animals that lived in an aquatic environment. Meaning that the tapeworm has evolved to live in an area without being surrounded by water.The tapeworm has done so by creating bilateral symmetry. Bilateral symmetry has only one way to divide the animal meaning it is more complex structure inside than an animal with spherical symmetry. The more complex inside structure allows for specialization meaning it can survive without being in water 24/7. Another adaptation would be that the tapeworm reproduces up to 100,000 eggs in one proglottide and can produce up to half a billion eggs each year. By producing this many eggs in a little amount of time this give the organism a better chance of survival.

Sources-
Dr. Dan. "Tapeworms." // Woodside Pet Information - Veterinary Advise Center //. 10 Oct. 1999. Web. 03 May 2011. .

"Parasitic Worms (Helminths) : Flatworms, Flukes, Tapeworms, Roundworms, Ascaris, & More : Parasitology.com." // Parasitology : The Biological Science of Parasites, Their Hosts, and the Relationship Between Them //. "Biology" by Kenneth R Miller, Ph.D and Joseph Levine, Ph. D, 2006. Web. 04 May 2011. .

Scott, Cameron. "Tyra Banks Publicizes Tapeworm Diet : The Thin Green Line." // San Francisco Bay Area — News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Classifieds: SFGate //. Web. 04 May 2011. "The Class Cestoda (Tapeworms)." // The Earth Life Web //. Web. 04 May 2011. []. "Tapeworms." //Woodside Pet Information - Veterinary Advise Center//. Web. 04 May 2011. . "Parasitic Worms (Helminths) : Flatworms, Flukes, Tapeworms, Roundworms, Ascaris, & More : Parasitology.com." // Parasitology : The Biological Science of Parasites, Their Hosts, and the Relationship Between Them //. "Biology" by Kenneth R Miller, Ph.D and Joseph Levine, Ph. D, 2006. Web. 04 May 2011. <http://www.parasitology.com/worms/index.html>. "WormLearn Tapeworms." // Http: //home.austarnet.com.au/ //. 27 July 2003. Web. 04 May 2011. <http://home.austarnet.com.au/~wormman/WLTAPE.HTM>.