STUDENT'S NAME: Melanie ENROLLMENT:
Joselyn Lucio Morales
Al03053226
NAME OF THE COURSE: Life TEACHER'S NAME:
science
María Lucía Garzón Arce
MODULE NUMBER: Module 1 ACTIVITY AND/OR TASK NUMBER:
Exercise 5
DELIVERY DATE:
February 9, 2024 at 11:59 pm
1. See pages 20-55 of your e-book.
2. Choose unusual or striking species (e.g. the platypus
[Ornithorhynchus anatinus], the aye-aye [Daubentonia
madagascarensis], the tardygrade water bear [Macrobiotus sp.], the
blobfish [Psychrolutes marcidus]). The animal I chose is the Axolotl
(Ambystoma mexicanum).
3. Represent the target species in their habitat and describe their
characteristics:
Axolotl
Ambystoma Mexicanum
A legend tells that the gods decided to gather in Teotihuacan to create the universe
by offering their own lives in sacrifice. Huitzilopochtli, Xochipilli, and Tezcatlipoca,
among others, threw themselves into the fire; however, one of them did not want to
do it because he was afraid of burning. He was Xólotl. So, he fled from
Teotihuacan to an unknown destination. The gods were angry at such an action, so
they ordered the Wind to find him to fulfill the sacrifice. The task was not so easy
because Xólotl began to transform himself into different species so that he would
not be found. The first form he adopted was that of a turkey, but when he was
threatened by the proximity of the wind, he became a maguey. Then, he took the
shape of a xoloitzcuintle dog. In spite of all the transformations, Xólotl was located
by the envoy of the gods. Having no escape, he decided to throw himself into the
lake and became an axolotl.
This incredible animal, with 32 billion base pairs of DNA, which is ten times more
than the human genome, has the largest genome ever sequenced in history. An
animal with an unreal regenerative capacity, as it is capable of regenerating its
nervous system. This animal from Xochimilco and representative of Mexico has
been my favorite animal for years and my number one obsession. I am happy to do
my research on this amazing animal that I am passionate about. Unfortunately,
they are endangered. These amphibians can reach a lifespan of up to more than
20 years in captivity, while in the wild, it's 15 years. The best-known axolotls,
mainly because of their color, are the white axolotl, white albino axolotl, and pink
albino axolotl, although they are commonly dark brown.
Types of reproduction: Axolotls reach sexual maturity up to one year of life or 18
months when they are still in their aquatic larval form. The breeding season is in
winter, and they need low temperatures. Sexual activity, as well as egg laying,
occurs at night. Fertilization is internal; the males place spermatophores, which are
small whitish cones containing sperm, on their tip on the substrate or some rock.
The females collect them with their cloaca to deposit them in their spermatheca.
During the next night, they begin to lay eggs; the female deposits the eggs in
groups of four to ten, usually on plants. A total of 400 to 800 eggs to a thousand
eggs, depending on the size of the female, take ten to 14 days to hatch at 24°C
(75°F). Although there are animals that can have sexual activity between relatives
and reproduce without any problem, such as dogs, salamanders, if they mate with
relatives, can have offspring with deformities or cause death.
Growth stages: Life expectancy of an axolotl is 12-15 years. Its growth stages
are:
Egg Stage:
The first stage of axolotl development is the egg stage. I have already explained
the process by which axolotls lay eggs.
Embryo Stage:
These embryos usually have a gel around them to protect them and can measure
around 2 mm in diameter. The axolotl's body gradually becomes more defined.
Before the embryo hatches, the axolotl will form its body and head, although its
legs are not yet formed. In the second stage of the embryo, axolotls are around 11
mm in diameter and grow rapidly in this stage. The axolotl is ready for the next
stage, the larval stage.
Larval Stage Without Legs:
There are two stages of the larval stage: the first is when the axolotl still has no
legs and is important for the axolotl's development. It still cannot move quickly and
needs support from the parents. After two weeks, there will be the first signs that
the axolotl's limbs will begin to develop.
Larval Stage with 2 Legs:
The front legs will develop first, and the hind legs last. It is quite unusual for it to be
the other way around. The stage can last several weeks, and they will gradually
grow until they reach the next stage.
Young Adult:
At this stage, the animal is ready to live even more on its own. At this stage, the
axolotl becomes sexually active, and when they reach sexual maturity, it means
they have fully grown.
Adult Axolotl:
Finally, they reach the adult stage. This stage is the longest of their life cycle,
starting at 6 months of age and lasting for the rest of their lives.
Facts: Axolotls suffer from neoteny, which means they do not undergo
metamorphosis; they stay the same, and the only thing that changes is their size.
That's why they are said to be young forever.
Types of Feeding: In the wild, axolots feed on slugs, crickets, worms, insects,
larvae, mosquitoes, small crustaceans, smaller salamanders, frog tadpoles, and
small fish they can swallow. Their diet is rich in proteins. They do not consume
plants.
Axolots lack teeth, so instead of chewing, they swallow.
Geographical Space and Habitat: These amphibians once inhabited the high-
altitude lakes in Mexico City, but sadly, due to habitat degradation, this is no longer
the case. Axolotls are native to the ancient Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco in
central Mexico. These lakes were once interconnected, but their size has been
greatly reduced due to urbanization and water management projects. Axolotls are
primarily found in freshwater habitats with dense vegetation, muddy bottoms, and
relatively cool temperatures. They are commonly found in shallow waters near the
lake edges, where they can find food and shelter. Despite being critically
endangered in the wild, they are often kept in captivity around the world. The
climate of their habitat plays a significant role. They require a mild and temperate
climate, with relatively constant temperatures throughout the year. The Xochimilco
region experiences abundant rainfall, especially during the rainy season. Rain
helps maintain water levels in the canals and provides a fresh water supply to
support the habitat of axolotls.
4. Find information about the food chain of that ecosystem (locate at
least five links (organisms) that are directly related to the target
species and explain the place that the species occupy in the food
chain. (e.g. Producer, primary, secondary or tertiary consumer)
5. Answer the following with respect to the selected species in a clear
and complete way. Include two references in APA format that will
support you to respond.
a. Describe the importance of the species in their environment:
Axolotls are important in the ecosystem as they help maintain its
health. These animals consume food that, although also consumed
by other animals, keep those populations under control. Additionally,
as I showed in my food chain, axolotls also serve as a food source for
some fish and birds, their main predator being the Blue Tilapia
(Oreochromis aureus). Axolotls inhabit clear lakes that are prone to
algal blooms, which can lead to poor water quality if not controlled.
b. Explain whether climate change or any environmental issue
threatens their reproduction: My favorite animal has been
endangered for years. An environmental problem would be the
decrease in water levels and its contamination in the canals of
Xochimilco, which are some of the main reasons that have caused
the Mexican axolotl, one of the endemic species of the capital of the
country, to be in danger of extinction.
c. How would the loss of the species from their habitat affect
humans?: The axolotl, our representative Mexican animal, if it
becomes extinct, will have a huge impact on the food chain. The
Mexican axolotl plays a crucial role in the food chain in its habitat. As
a natural predator, the axolotl helps maintain the balance in the
population of many aquatic species. If the axolotl disappears, there
will be a significant imbalance in the food chain and it will also affect
other species.
References for questions:
James, H. (2023, 8 junio). Why are axolotls important to the ecosystem | Unified pets.
Unified Pets. [Link]
Meré, E. (2019, 20 noviembre). El ajolote, el monstruo de agua que se enfrenta a la
extinción. [Link].
[Link]
de-agua-que-se-enfrenta-a-la-extincion
Admin. (2023, 2 noviembre). Consecuencias de la extinción del ajolote mexicano.
Versatilidad Web. [Link]
ajolote-mexicano/
6. Include a conclusion of the work, where you can clearly describe what
you've learned and the purpose of it. This evidence was very enjoyable to
do; I didn't even feel it as evidence. It was something very pleasant to do
because I talked about my favorite animal in the world, the axolotl. I believe
that this evidence helps us to raise awareness that all animals and species
that inhabit our world are important, and knowing their characteristics, the
extinction of one of them implies an impact, no matter what. I loved doing
this evidence and reading for hours about my favorite animal, of which I am
fascinated and obsessed. Although I know a lot about them, in this
evidence, I learned many more things about them; it was incredible. In
conclusion, we must take care of all animals and species, contribute our bit,
and be aware of our decisions regarding the environment.
Deliver the evidence according to the evaluation criteria included in the
following
References:
Bakalar, N. (2018, 3 febrero). El ajolote tiene el mayor genoma del mundo y da una pista
sobre sus cualidades regenerativas. The New York Times.
[Link]
La leyenda del axolote mexicano, un dios que se negó a morir. (s. f.). [Link]
[Link]/la-leyenda-del-axolote-mexicano-un-dios-que-se-nego-a-
morir/
Redacción. (2022, 8 septiembre). Cuánto vive un ajolote. Cuánto Viven.
[Link]
Sonia Mundo Animal. (2018, 31 marzo). 👨👨REPRODUCCIÓN DEL AJOLOTE (axolote
mexicano) [Vídeo]. YouTube. [Link]
Tracyn. (s. f.). Axolotl. The Dallas World Aquarium. [Link]
Nerd, A. (2022, 30 agosto). Axolotls Growth Stages and Growth Rate. Axolotl Nerd.
[Link]
Nerd, A. (2022b, septiembre 6). Axolotls feeding – the complete guide. Axolotl Nerd.
[Link]
Chatterjee, R. (2023, 18 agosto). Where Does Axolotl Live? Unveiling the Habitat of This
Unique Amphibian - Animal Queries. Animal Queries.
[Link]
