Invertebrate Zoology (BIOL 321)
Brian Wisenden, Biosciences Department, Minnesota State
University Moorhead
HA 407, 477-5001, wisenden@mnstate.edu
Invertebrate Zoology BIOL 321
Fall 2007
Instructor: Brian Wisenden
King 407, 477-5001, wisenden@mnstate.edu
Parasite Lab Report description
Background information on the goldenrod fly system
Goldenrod Lab Report description
Goldenrod Lab Report
grading rubric
Goldenrod Lab data
Lectures from final section of the course:
Course description: This course is a survey of major invertebrate taxa, with some emphasis on insects. Course content includes identification of major groups, their ecology. Some emphasis will be placed on important parasites and agricultural pests. Each student will be responsible for creating a labeled collection of invertebrates.
This course has four objectives. After this course, each student should:
1) be able to describe the major groups of invertebrates and the phylogenetic relationships among them
2) be able to identify common invertebrates in the area
3) have a special appreciation for insect diversity
4) have a special appreciation for parasitic invertebrates
Collection
The collection is a major component of the course because there is no better way to become one with the inverts, which is to say that there is no more enjoyable way to get to know them than to go to where they live, see how they live, and spend some time watching live organisms in all their glory.
Each student’s personal collection of invertebrates will be amassed and organized individually. The collection is due at the end of the semester. The collection will be graded out of a total of 300 points. There is one point awarded for each taxon in the collection. A taxon is Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, subfamily, Genus, or Species. Each taxon can be counted only once. For example, a ladybird beetle is worth 5 points for K. Animalia, P. Arthropoda, C. Insecta, O. Coleoptera, F. Chrysomelidae (etc., additional points for taxa below family). A cricket added to this collection is worth 2 points for O. Orthoptera, F. Gryllidae – the Kingdom, Phylum, and Class do not recounted for points because they have already been counted. Therefore there are two ways to increase the point value of your collection: 1) include as many different groups as you can find to increase the taxonomic diversity of your collection, and, i.e., a snail would score new points at the Phylum (Mollusca) and Class (Gastropoda) levels as well as order, family and genus, 2) increase the depth of identification to increase the number of specimens identified to the genus and species level, i.e., adding Gryllus would score a new point at the genus level.
Each collection should be accompanied by an organized, systematic tally of all taxa contained in the collection.
Attendance: You are also expected to take examinations at the announced time. In the case of an anticipated, excusable absence on an examination date, you should make arrangements for a make-up examination before the absence. In the case of an unanticipated, excusable absence, you should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make arrangements for a make-up examination. Make-up examinations are at the discretion of the instructor and may differ in content and difficulty from the original examination. See MSUM Student Absence Policy, Student Handbook: http://www.mnstate.edu/shandbook/POLICY/index.htm
Academic honesty: All students are expected to be honest in all their work for this class. In the event of joint projects, all students working on the project are expected to contribute equally to the final product. See MSUM Student Handbook address above.
Students with disabilities:
Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Disability Services at 477-2652 (voice) or 477-2047 (TTY), CMU 222 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.