Difference between revisions of "Biology Collections"
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The Biology Department at 鶹Ƶ curates diverse collections of organisms including plants, vertebrate animals and invertebrate animals. | The Biology Department at 鶹Ƶ curates diverse collections of organisms including plants, vertebrate animals and invertebrate animals. | ||
| − | Collections are assemblages of species of a particular type of organism (e.g. fireflies, fish, ferns, etc.). They are dynamic and grow as newly-collected and donated specimens are acquired. Collections serve critical roles in fields such as taxonomy, ecology, botany, zoology, conservation biology and evolutionary biology. Several uses include: | + | Collections are assemblages of species of a particular type of organism (e.g. fireflies, fish, ferns, etc.). They are dynamic and grow as newly-collected and donated specimens are acquired. Collections serve critical roles in fields such as taxonomy, ecology, botany, zoology, conservation biology and evolutionary biology. Several uses include: |
| − | * documenting | + | * documenting morphological variation within and among populations, |
* describing population range sizes, | * describing population range sizes, | ||
* demonstrating a species’ presence in a particular environment, and | * demonstrating a species’ presence in a particular environment, and | ||
Revision as of 20:47, 28 August 2008
The Biology Department at 鶹Ƶ curates diverse collections of organisms including plants, vertebrate animals and invertebrate animals.
Collections are assemblages of species of a particular type of organism (e.g. fireflies, fish, ferns, etc.). They are dynamic and grow as newly-collected and donated specimens are acquired. Collections serve critical roles in fields such as taxonomy, ecology, botany, zoology, conservation biology and evolutionary biology. Several uses include:
- documenting morphological variation within and among populations,
- describing population range sizes,
- demonstrating a species’ presence in a particular environment, and
- assisting in species identification.
The Biology Department collections have been integral to both student learning and scholarship for decades. Currently, the collections are used in some of the following ways:
- Students in Fish & Fisheries (BIO 100) use the fish collection to explore relationships between fish size and age ultimately estimating the age structure of a fish population.
- In Ecology, Evolution & Behavior (BIO 202), students use herbarium specimens to learn about sun and shade type leaves.
- Before conducting independent research projects, students in Vertebrate Zoology (BIO 242) use the collections to identify and learn about local fish, amphibians, birds and mammals.
- Students in Horticulture and Ecology (BIO 370) use the herbarium to identify specific species of plants.
- The insect collection continues to grow as Entomology (BIO 376) students donate specimens from their collections. Students also use the collection to learn about insect form & function.
- In Plant Physiology (BIO 378), herbarium specimens are used to show variation within a species.
- Students in Aquatic Biology (BIO 385) use the fish collection to identify local fish and understand natural morphological variation in local populations.
On-line presentation of our collections will extend the value of these resources to lay and scientific communities.