The Lab Assignment

Bio Diversity Group Project

In this class, you’ll be learning about the biomes andorganisms with whom we share the Earth.One of the best ways to improve this process is through active learningand research.To aid in that endeavor,you will be working in a group to collect, describe, and categorize some of theorganisms found on the Trumbull Campus of Kent State University.This will help you to learn in better detailthe organisms and concepts that we discuss in lecture and in lab, while helpingto build a small teaching collection at KSU Trumbull.

In a group of 4-6 students, you will be assigned a taxon ortaxa in which to become experts- Plants, Fungi, Birds and Mammals, Fish andAmphibians, or Invertebrates.Your groupwill work together to collect examples of your taxon from around the campus,and to fit these examples into our taxonomy as best as you can.We will make collecting trips around thecampus as a class, so don’t worry about the techniques, we’ll work on that parttogether.

Your group should plan to collect at least 10 specimens andidentify them to order at a minimum, or smaller unit if possible.With each specimen, you should have thescientific name and taxonomy, where the example was collected (what type ofhabitat- lawn, wooded area, lake, flowing water, wood-edge, etc.), theconditions when the specimen was collected (rainy, sunny, temperature, etc.),when it was collected, and any other observations that you noted.Each correct specimen is worth 5 points, withpoints being deducted for missing data described previously (taxonomy, habitat,date, weather, notes). Incorrectidentifications will be disregarded and no points assigned.

Because of the different organisms that we will be dealingwith, the types of specimen or example that you are collecting may vary acrosstaxa.In general, the following specimentypes will be used for each taxonomic group:

Plants-pressed plants

Invertebrates-pinned or jarred whole animals

Fungi-preserved specimens

Birdsand Mammals- clear photo, footprint, or skull (found- we will not be trapping)

Fish-preserved specimen (found) or photo

Amphibians-recorded frog call, photo, or preserved specimen (found only)

Turning in more than 10 specimens may create more work foryour group, but it provides you with a “buffer” in case of a mistaken identification,missing information, or other problems with your collected examples and stillreceive full credit as a group.At theend of the semester, you will turn in these specimens and they will becomeavailable for future students to learn from and add to.

To provide for accountability within each group, you willalso be asked to provide a peer review of your group members.This will not affect your group projectgrade, but it will play into your lab participation grade if your group membersreport that you were not assisting in the group project preparation.