Field Zoology Laboratory (BIOL 209) Fall 2015 GTA: Lisa Chamberland Email:
[email protected] Office: Marsh Life Science 316 Office Hours: Monday 12:00-2:00pm MLS 316; Tuesday 12:00-1:00pm Torrey Hall Laboratory: Tuesday 1:15-4:15 PM or 4:35-7:35 PM, 202 Torrey Hall Objectives Biodiversity is a necessary field of study for understanding life us. Taxonomy and morphology, and in recent years the introduction of DNA barcoding, are tools for creating catalogues of biodiversity. The field zoology lab has helped provide catalogued specimens to the Zadock Thompson Zoological Center Museum (http://www.uvmzoo.org ). These collections provide historical records of arthropods of Vermont and can be used in other areas of research, such as tracking responses to environmental and climate changes. This semester we will become familiar with collection techniques in the field and identification of terrestrial arthropods in the lab in order to build individual arthropod collections that students can keep or can donate to the museum collection. In addition to individual collections, in groups, students will also focus on one order and present a poster on the diversity of this group in Vermont at the end of the semester. By the end of the semester students will be able to use taxonomic keys to identify insects and arachnids to the family level and will have in depth knowledge on one order of arthropods. Field Collection As a class we will venture into the field to collect specimens during the first two weeks of lab. We will use quantitative collecting methods so that we can calculate the amount of effort applied to each collecting technique. Students are also encouraged to bring cameras to photograph specimens in the field. Given the weather conditions in Vermont during autumn, it is likely that we will receive our first frost as early as October. After the first frost occurs many of the insects and spiders will disappear until spring. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you spend additional time outside of lab collecting your taxonomic group during the early weeks of the semester. In the Lab Each student will have microscopes, forceps, vials, and other supplies necessary for identification. As a class we will first rough sort all specimens to order (Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Araneae, etc.). To the best of your ability, you will then identify specimens to family level, genera level (if possible) and form individual collections. There will be one lab practical at the end of the semester. Students will also be separated into groups of 3 or 4 and will choose an order to research in depth and present on at the end of the semester. Each group is also responsible for including an original high-resolution photograph of at least one specimen (in the field and/or using the lab camera) on the poster.
Grading Your collection is worth 100 points (see lecture syllabus). In order to get full credit for your collection, you must have 11 correctly identified insect orders, and 60 correctly identified insect families. You also need 10 spider families, as below: You will be rewarded two points per correctly identified order, and one point per correctly identified family. You will not incur point deductions for incorrectly identified specimens, but they will not be included in your final tally. Therefore, including more specimens than the minimum is strongly advised. Extra orders will not count toward your grade, but they will serve as a cushion in the event of misidentifications. Assignment
Points
Final Collection (100 points including collection, labeling, organization) Group Poster Attendance and Participation Lab Practical
100 70 20 60
Total Points
250
Order Diptera Coleoptera Hemiptera Hymenoptera Lepidoptera Orthoptera Odonata Other Insect Orders Arachnids Total
Number Collected 5+ unique families 5+ unique families 5+ unique families 5+ unique families 6 unique families 2 unique families 2 unique families 10 unique families (from at least 4 unique orders not above) 5+ unique families of spiders 50 Families
Diversity Credit If you have multiple species in a single Family, those additional specimens will add 0.5 points to your score, with no denominator increase (that is, this is your extra credit). You can only get extra points for a single extra species per Family, and only for up to 20 extra species in 20 different Families (for up to 10 extra credit points).
Label Information
Every specimen must have two labels: a locality label and a determination (=identification) label. Any submitted specimen that lacks either will not be counted (that is, all specimens must have both labels). The label must be printed in a font that lacks serifs, in 3 or 4 pt, using a laser printer (not bubble- or deskjet). The format is as follows: Locality label: COUNTRY ,
1, ,
, ,
,
*, Coll. Determination Label: Order: Family: * Det. things in “< >” are information you include. The final labels do not have “< >” on them * dates must be written this way: Arabic day, roman numeral month, and 4 digit year: 30.viii.2015 1
Example USA Perry Hill,
VT, 350m,
USA, N 44.324063 W072.716575,
Waterbury,
26.vii.2015, Coll. L. Chamberland Order: Arachnida Family: Araneidae 5.viii.2015 L. Chamberland Specimens must be organized by Order (and Family, if you have multiple species of the same family). Orders must be arranged from left to right, top to bottom, alphabetically. This component is worth 10 points. Specimens must also be pinned correctly for size and Order. This component is worth 20 points. Merely turning in a box with even a single, correctly identified specimen is worth the remaining six points. You are permitted to trade specimens with classmates, but you must correctly indicate the collector and determiner on the appropriate labels. Selling or stealing specimens will be treated as a violation of the Code of Academic Integrity.
Lab Schedule Week
Lab Activity
1: September 8 2: September 15 3: September 22
Field Collecting --- location TBA Field Collecting --- location TBA Techniques in labeling, pinning and preserving specimens Begin sorting --- to order Sorting--- to order; morph. Sorting --- within orders Sorting --- within orders Sorting --- within orders Meet with group and choose order Sorting---within orders Photograph specimen from order for poster? (each group must sign up for time slot) Lab Practical Lab session to finish up loose ends/get feedback on posters
4: September 29 5: October 6 6: October 13 7: October 20 8: October 27 9: November 3 10: November 10 11: November 17
12: NO LAB 13: December 1 14: December 9
Thanksgiving Break Collections due Poster Session (with arthropod themed refreshments!)
Due in Class // Outside activities n/a // Field collecting n/a // Field collecting Find a dichotomous key // Field collecting
n/a // Group poster work n/a // Group poster work Prepare for lab practical n/a // Group poster work Draft of posters PRINTED for group feedback Individual collections Group posters
