Biology for Majors 182

Arizona Western College

USDA-ACIS Grant

Dr. Cecilia Vigil

Part1 – Warm-up Discussion

A)This semester we have covered many competencies that we can now bring into this discussion: genetics, organismal biology, evolution, Look at schedule for bio 182

B)Review PPT – One health and Climate Change

C)Review the following presentation from the Commonwealth Club of California by Dr. Larry Brilliant

D)After completing B and C and through research,write notes / define the following:

  • microbiology
  • disease
  • epidemiology – John Snow….urbanization…..spot-map
  • pandemic
  • quarantine
  • public health
  • one health
  • vaccine (vaca = cow)
  • zoonotic
  • Ring vaccination
  • Germ theory
  • Dichotomous key
  • Tommy Frances – vaccine trial – double blind case controlled
  • Straws and guinea worms (dracunculiasis)
  • Climate change
  • Bioterrorism
  • Genetic shift, drift, re-assortment
  • Aedesaegypti – distribution and climate chnage….why most apt to carry zyka?
  • Aenophellesstephensi – malaria
  • Environmentalist
  • Silent spring – Rachel Carson
  • DDT

E)View the following video which will assist you in understanding the proboscis of a mosquito …..THEN ……. using the following dichotomous key to identify the provided mosquito species (prepared slides) provided-

Part 2 - Climate Change and Mammal Dispersal

A)LECTURE….. After lecture Climate Change and Dispersal (PowerpointClimate Change Dispersal Lecture) on migration and dispersal and climate/environment variables - review the following

  • Cover variables affecting mammal distribution:
    Temperature
    Precipitation
    Effective Moisture
    Relative Humidity
    Aridity
    Vegetation
    Predator/Prey Relationships
    Review concept of oxygen isotopes as temperature proxies
    Examples of past change-think about how animals might respond to cold and warm intervals
  • There are different biotic responses to climate change and one of them is dispersal
  • Recognizing stasis vs. dispersal

B)THINK-PAIR-SHARE…..Think-Pair-Share on modern example of a species range shift in our area.

C)LECTURE…..How do we use actual data to evaluate these changes? We need a database to help us see trends in space and time, not just at the local level but on a broader scale. Spend 10 minutes on Neotoma website (Neotoma Database introduce it and explain where the data comes from (peer review and research process). Walk through example of modern distribution and demonstrate how to use different functions on Neotoma Explorer using the example provided in included step-by-step word document.

D)EXERCISE…….Have students do a distribution example similar to the one just performed and troubleshoot. Then, have class (groups or individuals) test a "given" hypothesis (example provided in powerpoint). Each individual or group has their own species to test (see recommended species list below). If completing the introductory module only, have students share their results at the end of class and discuss their findings.

Recommended Species:

Northern Species

Red-backed vole Myodesgapperi
Heather vole Phenacomys intermedius
Arctic shrew Sorexarcticus
Boreal red backed vole Mictomys borealis
Yellow-cheeked vole Microtus xanthognathus
Meadow vole Microtus pennsylvanicus
Northern flying squirrel Glaucomyssabrinus

Western Taxa

Black-tailed prairie dog Cynomysludovicianus
Western pocket gopher Thomomystalpoides
Plains pocket gopher Geomysbursarius
Pocket mouse Chaetopushispideus
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel Spermophilustridecemlineatus

Eastern Taxa

Least shrew Cryptotisparva
Eastern Chipmunk Tamiasstriatus
Pine Vole Microtus pinetorum
Gray Squirrel Sciuruscarolinensis
Fox squirrel Sciurusniger
Eastern flying squirrel Glaucomysvolans

Southern Taxa

Rice rat Oryzomyspalustris
Cotton rat Sigmodonhispidus
Round-tailed muskrat Neofiberalleni
Eastern woodrat Neotomafloridana
Armadillo Dasypusnovemcinctus (invasive) / Dasypusbellus (extinct)

Reference: