User:Armystud77/sandbox

Natalie:
I am going to add/edit a couple of sentences about skin to the Anatomy section of the Iguana article.

Quote about skin from Anatomy section of Iguana article: "...and a row of spines running down their backs to their tails. Behind their necks are small scales which resemble spokes, known as tuberculate scales. These scales may be a variety of colors and are not always visible from close distances."

I would like to expand this to say the following:

...and a row of elongated scales running from the midline of the neck down to the tails. Iguanas have varying types of scales covering different areas of their body, for example, there are some large round tuberculate scales scattered around the lateral region of the neck among smaller, overlapping scales. The scales on the dorsal trunk of their body are also thicker and more tightly packed than those on the ventral side.

Sources


 * 1) Chang, Cheng, et al. “Reptile Scale Paradigm: Evo-Devo, Pattern Formation and Regeneration.” The International Journal of Developmental Biology, vol. 53, no. 5-6, 2009, pp. 813–826., doi:10.1387/ijdb.072556cc.

Porter
I have moved my sections into the main iguana page. I added some pictures and edited a new parietal eye picture for the page. I have adjusted my original sources to compliment the page better. I want to add some additional information about the muscle type within the iguana to give some context to the musculature pictures we have in this sandbox.

"The muscles of an iguana are very light in color, this is due to the high proportion of fast glycolytic muscle fibers. These fibers are not very vascularized and are low in myoglobin giving them their pale look. This density of fast glycolytic muscle fibers allows iguanas to move very quickly for a short period of time, this style of muscle organization is important for short bursts of movement but is inefficient for long duration movement."

Natalie:
- Added labels to images of dorsal and ventral musculature.

- Published phylogeny section to the Iguana article, along with appropriate references and the corresponding image.

Week 11: Additional Images
Photos taken by Natalie throughout the dissection process

Ovaries, Lungs, and Sclerotic Ring images edited by Porter

Natalie:
Scales/Skin Section:

Reptile Scale

Sources


 * 1) Chang, Cheng, et al. “Reptile Scale Paradigm: Evo-Devo, Pattern Formation and Regeneration.” The International Journal of Developmental Biology, vol. 53, no. 5-6, 2009, pp. 813–826., doi:10.1387/ijdb.072556cc.

Phylogeny Section (edited):

A phylogeny based on nuclear protein-coding genes, reviewed by Vidal and Hedges (2009) suggested that the subclade Iguania is in a group with snakes and anguimorphs (lizards), which all have an oral gland capable of secreting toxins (a derived trait). The phylogeny based on whole mitochondrial genomes, proposed by Rest et. al. (2003), argues that the closest relative of the Green Iguana is the Mole Skink (Plestiodon egregius). Within the Lepidosaurs, which are reptiles with overlapping scales, both iguanians and tuataras (Sphenodons) project their tongue to seize prey items instead of using their jaw, which is called tongue prehension. However, iguanians are the only lineage within Squamata that displays this trait, meaning that it was gained independently in both iguanians and tuataras. Iguanians are also the only squamates that primarily use their sight to identify and track prey rather than chemoreception or scent, and employ an ambush technique of catching prey instead of active searching.

Sources

Vidal N, Hedges SB. "The molecular evolutionary tree of lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians". Comptes Rendus Biologies. 2009;332:129–139.

doi:10.1016/j.crvi.2008.07.010. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

Rest JS, et al. "Molecular systematics of primary reptilian lineages and the tuatara mitochondrial genome". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2003;29:289–

297. doi: 10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00108-8.[PubMed] [Cross Ref]

Dissection Images (so far):

Porter:
(Reproduction and Mating section kept the same, Sensory Organs combined into one section, Anatomy reorganized and reworded.)

Anatomy and Physiology:

Iguanas can range from 1.5 to 1.8 metres (5 to 6 ft) in length, including their tail. Within the genus Iguana possess a dewlap, a row of spines running down their backs to their tails, and a tiny "third eye" on their heads. Behind their necks are small scales which resemble spokes, known as tuberculate scales. These scales may be a variety of colors and are not always visible from close distances. They have a large round scale on their cheeks known as a sub-tympanic shield. Iguanas are often hard to spot, as they tend to blend into their surroundings and their coloration enables them to hide from larger predators. Like most reptiles, an iguana has a three-chambered heart with two atria, one ventricle, and two aortae with a systemic circulation.

Sensory Organs:

Several species of lizard, including the iguana have a pale scale towards the back of their head marking the parietal eye. This organ is photosensitive to changes in illumination and sends signals to the pineal gland signaling the change between day and night. A photopigment commonly found in the Lamprey, known as parapinopsin is photosensitive to UV light and aids in the signaling between day and night. Iguanas have keen vision and can see shapes, shadows, colors, and movement at long distances. Their visual acuity enables them to navigate through crowded forests and to locate food. They employ visual signals to communicate with other members of the same species. The tympanum, the iguana's eardrum, is located above the sub-tympanic shield (or "ear shield") behind each eye.

Reproduction/ Mating:

Male iguanas, like other male examples of Squamata, have two hemipenes. During copulation one hemipene will be inserted into the female's cloacal vent. Females can store sperm from previous mates for several years to continue to fertilize her eggs incase she finds no male in her area when she is ready to lay again. Iguanas tend to follow a promiscuous or polygynadrous mating style during the dry season. Mating during the dry season ensures that their offspring will hatch during the wet or rainy season when food will be more plentiful. Females control large territories where they make several nests. Males compete amongst each other for the females in an area and mark their won territory with a pheromone secreted from the femoral pores on the dorsal side of their hind limbs. Male behavior during sexual competition involves head bobbing, extending and retracting their dewlap, nuzzling and biting the necks of females, and on occasion, changing color. Once a female chooses a male, he will straddle the female and hold her in place by biting onto her shoulder, which sometimes leaves scars on females. After copulation, eggs are laid within several nests and allowed to incubate. This low level of parental intervention with their offspring makes iguanas an example of r-strategy reproduction.

Conservation Status and Methods
Like many other species found in tropical areas, the green iguana has faced habitat depletion in certain areas, such as locally within the Caribbean, Latin America and Panama. As a result the green iguana is listed within Appendix II by CITES, indicating that it is beneficial to regulate trade of this species. Once extremely common in their native ranges, green iguanas have since been bred in captivity and used as reinforcements for dwindling populations such as that in Panama. These iguana populations may then be used as more sustainable food sources than the introduced practice of cattle farming in these areas, which may help to better preserve soils.

Methods of conservation that have been used to preserve and reinforce iguana populations include captive breeding programs and headstarting, a practice in which young individuals that are either wild caught or raised in captivity are introduced to an area of interest. Another strategy that could prove to be useful for the conservation of the green iguana is to monitor populations of terrestrial predators such as the non-native raccoon in Costa Rica, as indicated by data involving the removal of raccoons within a Florida State Park.

Week 7: Peer Review/ Copy Edits
Porter-

Suggested using actual dissection images for some of the groups to give accurate representation of the parts of the organism they were focusing on, and as a way to avoid copy right issues. Also suggested to the rabbit group to link out any anatomy specific words within their draft so that the general public has a way to understand the information being presented.

Week 7: Drafting Continued...
Personal Drafting:

Reproduction
Male iguanas, like other male examples of Squamata, have two hemipenes. During copulation one hemipene will be inserted into the female's cloacal vent. Females can store sperm from previous mates for several years to continue to fertilize her eggs incase she finds no male in her area when she is ready to lay again.

Mating/ Courtship
Iguanas tend to follow a promiscuous or polygynadrous mating style during the dry season. Mating during the dry season ensures that their offspring will hatch during the wet or rainy season when food will be more plentiful. Females control large territories where they make several nests. Males compete amongst each other for the females in an area and mark their won territory with a pheromone secreted from the femoral pores on the dorsal side of their hind limbs. Male behavior during sexual competition involves head bobbing, extending and retracting their dewlap, nuzzling and biting the necks of females, and on occasion, changing color. Once a female chooses a male, he will straddle the female and hold her in place by biting onto her shoulder, which sometimes leaves scars on females. After copulation, eggs are laid within several nests and allowed to incubate. This low level of parental intervention with their offspring makes iguanas an example of r-strategy reproduction.

Week 6: Drafting Contributions
Group Drafting:

Phylogeny Section Addition
A phylogeny based on nuclear protein-coding genes, reviewed by Vidal and Hedges (2009) suggested that the subclade Iguania is in a group with snakes and anguimorphs, which all have an oral gland capable of secreting toxins (a derived trait). The phylogeny based on whole mitochondrial genomes, proposed by Rest et. al. (2003), argues that the closest relative of the Green Iguana is the Mole Skink (Eumeces egregius). Within the lepidosaurs, both iguanians and tuataras (Sphenodons) project their tongue to seize prey items instead of using their jaw, which is called tongue prehension, but iguanians are the only lineage within Squamata that displays this trait, meaning that it was gained independently in both iguanians and tuataras. Iguanians are also the only squamates that primarily use their sight to identify and track prey rather than chemoreception, and employ an ambush technique of catching prey instead of active searching.

Anatomy Section Reorganization
*The content is originally from the Iguana page, this new organization of information will act as a template for the edits moving forward*

**Practice of editing the information can be seen with the "Third Eye" section**

***Further information and reorganization needs to still happen with the other sections before fully changing it within the Iguana page***

Anatomy and Physiology:

Iguanas can range from 1.5 to 1.8 metres (5 to 6 ft) in length, including their tail. within the genus Iguana possess a dewlap, a row of spines running down their backs to their tails, and a tiny "third eye" on their heads. Behind their necks are small scales which resemble spokes, known as tuberculate scales. These scales may be a variety of colors and are not always visible from close distances. They have a large round scale on their cheeks known as a sub-tympanic shield. Iguanas are often hard to spot, as they tend to blend into their surroundings and their coloration enables them to hide from larger predators. Like most reptiles, an iguana has a three-chambered heart with two atria, one ventricle, and two aortae with a systemic circulation. The two species of lizard

Sensory Organs:

Third Eye-

This light-sensing organ is known as the parietal eye, visible as a pale scale on the top of the head, and cannot make out details, just brightness.

Several species of lizard, including the iguana have a pale scale towards the back of their head marking the parietal eye. This organ is photosensitive to changes in illumination and sends signals to the pineal gland signaling the change between day and night. A photopigment commonly found in the Lamprey, known as parapinopsin is photosensitive to UV light and aids in the signaling between day and night.

Eyes-

Iguanas have keen vision and can see shapes, shadows, colors, and movement at long distances. Their visual acuity enables them to navigate through crowded forests and to locate food. They employ visual signals to communicate with other members of the same species.

Eardrum-

The tympanum, the iguana's eardrum, is located above the sub-tympanic shield (or "ear shield") behind each eye.

Reproduction/ Mating:

Male iguanas, like other male examples of Squamata, have two hemipenes.

Week 5: Dissection Group Contributions
Selected Article: Green iguana, Iguana

Contributions
Overall contributions will consist of reorganizing the anatomy section of the article into more concise sub-sections (musculature, skeletal, morphological, reproductive, sensory, etc.), adding relevant pictures of the phylogeny and anatomical features done through the group dissection, and adding more relevant sources to further support the article.

Porter- Reproduction, Mating, Reorganization of the Anatomy Section

Natalie- Phylogeny, Metabolic Allometry

Erika- Dissection Images, Conservation/as an invasive species

Resources
Includes online articles, peer reviewed sources, books from the PLU library, and additional information found through the group dissection. Examples consist of the following...


 * A more comprehensive overview of the Iguana (may serve as a good template): https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Iguana_iguana/


 * Simplified reptile phylogeny that includes the green iguana: Molecular systematics of primary reptilian lineages and the tuatara mitochondrial genome (Rest et al., 2003).
 * Another phylogeny from a review paper with nodes labeled with adaptive traits: The molecular evolutionary tree of lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians (Vidal and Hedges, 2009)
 * Comparative skull anatomy: Comparative evaluation of the cadaveric, radiographic and computed tomographic anatomy of the heads of green iguana (Iguana iguana), common tegu (Tupinambis merianae) and bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) (Banzato et al., 2012)
 * Metabolic allometry: Rates of oxygen uptake increase independently of changes in heart rate in late stages of development and at hatching in the green iguana, Iguana iguana (Sartori et al., 2016)
 * Unidirectional airflow in iguana lungs: New insight into the evolution of the vertebrate respiratory system and the discovery of unidirectional airflow in iguana lungs(Cieri et al., 2014)

Schutz Comments:

 * The animal diversity web is a great resource, particularly if you want to look for primary sources since they list them. However, even though this content is / was well monitored and regulated, it is still not completely peer-reviewed so proceed with caution. Good resource and starting point though.
 * Nice job commenting and coming up with ideas. As you move forward, I suggest you start to parse out the work by what individuals will do and what the group will do as a whole.

Iguana
I am interested to see if there are noticeable differences between reptile and mammal anatomy that promote a need for an external heat source rather than internal insulation.

Link: Iguana

Contributions: Change the anatomy section of the article to be more visually appealing to the readers and change the wording on the topics discussed to a jargon easier to understand. Also to better organize the section I think the use of subheadings will help break up the block of text currently provided. It might be helpful too if the small sections currently available were elaborated on or provided more outer links to follow, because currently it looks very limited in scope.

Amia
I would be interested to see if the time that has elapsed between this derived version and its ancestral version has allowed for some anatomical changes supporting a modern marine environment with changes in survival pressures that differ from long ago.

Link: Bowfin

Contributions: Possibly include a section on the skull of the Amia that shows why it is still related to a previously extinct group.

Rattlesnake
I am interested in the anatomical structure that provides the rattle sound to the "rattle" at the end of the tail of a rattlesnake.

Link: Rattlesnake

Contributions: The anatomy sections has some sections within the sensory organs that are limited in scope and could be elaborated on a bit further like smell or auditory systems for example.

Week 3: Article Addition
Lateral Line: (Original) "This system is found in most fish, including sharks. It detects motion or vibrations in water. The shark can sense frequencies in the range of 25 to 50 Hz." (Shark)

(Edited) "This system is found in most fish, including sharks. It is a tactile sensory system which allows the organism to detect water speed and pressure changes near by. The shark can sense frequencies in the range of 25 to 50 Hz. The main component of the system is the neuromast, a cell similar to human hair cells, which interacts with the surrounding aquatic environment. This helps sharks distinguish between the currents around them, obstacles off on their periphery, and struggling prey out of visual view."

This edit was made in the actual Wikipedia page "Shark" under the Lateral Line section.

Week 2: Article Evaluation
The opening statement on this page is very informative and offers several links to possible references needed for the rest of the article. It gives a generalized brief over the classification, morphology, and history of the topic in a context that is easy to understand. The writing of this article is very jargon heavy and could be simplified a bit farther, especially in the introduction brief to allow the public to better understand the information provided. The article is unbiased and has many references backing the information presented, with numerous reliable sources and even additional resources one could use to further explore this topic past what is given in this article. There are a number of resources that are more opinion based or secondary source material, but the whole reference page is fairly reliable. The article covers a wide array of topics in relation to its main topic ranging from anatomical, to ecological, to historical. Some topics however are only briefly explained in comparison to other topics (an example being the section on the lateral line system). Towards the end of the article current issues of exploitation and conservation are relayed to reference current trends for the topic today. All the links provided in the article take you to helpful pages or related pages, allowing further exploration and understanding on the initial article. As a whole this article gives a broad unbiased source of information on sharks that could generally inform a reader or allow a step-off-point for any researcher to explore further. This article is listed under the Natural Sciences Good Articles and is part of top importance for Wikiprojects involving Sharks and Fishes. The talk page isn't very extensive but involves reviewers requesting to add more information to the page to improve the information provided.