CourseOutlineForm:Winter2018
GeneralInformation
CourseCode:ENVS3090
CourseTitle:InsectDiversityandBiologyCourseDescription:
Thiscourseisanoverviewofinsectdiversityandbiologyemphasizinggroupsofimportancein conservationbiology,outdoorrecreationandeconomicentomology.Labsfocusoninsectidentificationandthedevelopmentofasmallinsectcollection.
Prerequisite(s):BIOL*1040or(2ofBIOL*1050,BIOL*1070,BIOL*1080,BIOL*1090)
CreditWeight:0.5
AcademicDepartment(orcampus):SchoolofEnvironmentalSciencesCampus:Guelph
SemesterOffering:Winter2018
ClassScheduleandLocation:Lecture(TuesdayandThursday,11:30am-12:50pm):MacKinnon223;Lab(Tuesday2:30-5:20pmor7:00-9:50pm):GrahamHall3309.
InstructorInformation
InstructorName:MorganJackson
InstructorEmail:nstructorPhoneandExtension:519-824-4120x52582
Officelocationandofficehours:E.C.BoveyBuilding,Room1207.Hours:Mondays1-4pm
GTAInformation
GTAName:MatthewMuzzattiandTiffanyYau
GTAEmail:
GTAofficelocationandofficehours:TAswon'thavesetweeklyhours;pleaseemailthemtosetupameetingtimeifyouwanttodiscusssomethingoutsideoflabs.
CourseContent
INSECTDIVERSITYANDBIOLOGYisanintroductoryentomologycoursemeanttoprovideabasicframeworkforthestudyofthebiology,importance,andidentificationofinsects.
Insects,withtheirincrediblevarietyofformandfunction,notonlymakeupahugemajorityofalllivingthings,theyalsoaffecttheremainderofEarth'sbiodiversitythroughtheireconomic,medicalandecologicalimportance.Theframeworkforthiscoursewillbeanoverviewofthestructureanddiversityofinsectsinanevolutionarycontext.Thatframeworkwillbeusedtoillustrategeneralthemesininsectbiology,andtointroducetheordersandmostimportantfamiliesofinsects.Lecturesprovideanevolutionaryperspectiveonthebasictaxonomy,habits,morphology,habitats,andlifehistorystrategiesofinsects,aswellasthemanywaysinwhichinsectsarestudied.Thelabsareapracticalintroductiontoinsectidentification.Studentswilllearntorecognizethemostsignificanttaxaandwillgainhands-onexperiencewiththetoolsusedtoidentifyinsects.Usageofdichotomouskeyswillbeemphasized,andstudentswillusekeystoidentifyinsectsprovidedinstudysetsaswellasspecimenstheyhavecollectedthemselvesduringtheterm.
SpecificLearningOutcomes:
Thiscourseisageneralintroductiontothedisciplineofentomology,withanemphasisoninsectdiversity.Throughthestudyofthebasictaxonomy,habits,morphology,habitats,andlifehistorystrategiesofinsectsthroughanevolutionaryperspective,studentswillbeexpectedtoattainsomefluencyinthelanguageofentomology,showinganunderstanding ofbasicinsectstructuresphysiologyalongwithrecognizingtheoveralldiversityofInsecta.Theywilllearntoextrapolatefromgeneralpatternsoflifehistoryandbehaviortospecificpredictionsaboutthebiologyofinsectsencounteredinterrestrialandfreshwaterenvironments.Studentswillbeintroducedtothemanywaysthatscientistsstudyinsects,includingsomeofthepeoplewhohavecontributedtoourunderstandingofinsect diversity,evolution,andnaturalhistory.Thelaboratorieswillworksynergisticallywiththelecturestoreinforcerecognitionofimportanttaxa(orders,families)andenablestudentstoidentifyothertaxausingdichotomouskeys.Studentswilllearnhowtocollectinsects,andhowtoproperlyprepareandmaintaininsectspecimensforscientificstudy.Inboththelectureandthelaboratorytheemphasiswillbeontheattainmentofpracticalskillsneededbyresearchers,teachers,naturalists,andfieldbiologistsinavarietyofrelateddisciplines.
LectureContent:
DATE / Lecture / Content9-Jan / 1 / TheLittleThingsthatRuntheWorld:Diversity,basicmorphology,terminology, andanintroductiontotheArthropoda(AssignedReading:Chapter13–Non-insectArthropods)
11-Jan / 2 / Sixlegsarebetterthan10:IntroductiontoHexapoda,higherclassificationofInsectsandphylogenetictheory(AssignedReading:PrefaceandIntroduction;Chapter1–TheWinglessInsects)
16-Jan / 3 / UpIntheAir:Dragonflies(Odonata)andMayflies(Ephemeroptera)(AssignedReading:Chapter2–Mayflies,Dragonflies,andDamselflies)
18-Jan / 4 / Knowwhentofold'em:TheNeoptera(Stoneflies(Plecoptera)andorthopteroids)(AssignedReading:Chapter3–Stoneflies;Chapter4–Cockroaches,Termites,MantidsandotherOrthopteroids)
23-Jan / 5 / SingingintheRain:TheOrthoptera(grasshoppers,katydids,crickets)plusEatingInsects(Entomophagy)(AssignedReading:Chapter4–Grasshoppers,CricketsandKatydids)
25-Jan / 6 / Fringe:TheThrips(Thysanoptera)andTrueBugs(Hemiptera)(AssignedReading:Chapter6–TrueBugsandOtherHemipteroids)
30-Jan / 7 / ThisLectureSucks:TheHeteroptera(Hemipteracontinued)(AssignedReading:Chapter6)
1-Feb / 8 / Nitpicking:TheLice(Psocodea)plusScientificIllustrationforthe21stCentury(AssignedReading:Chapter6)
6-Feb / 9 / TheMetamorphosis:TheHolometabolaandparasiticwasps(Hymenoptera)(AssignedReading:Chapter12–Sawflies,Wasps,Bees,andAnts)
8-Feb / 10 / TheSting:Thebeesandwasps(Hymenopteracontinued)(AssignedReading:Chapter12)
13-Feb / 11 / TheSocialNetwork:Theants(Hymenoptera)andthenerve-wingedinsects(Neuropteroidea)(AssignedReading:Chapter12;Chapter9–Lacewings,Antlions,Fishflies,andRelatedInsects)
15-Feb / 12 / MidTerm(inclass)–Longshortanswerquestionsonthebiology,evolution,naturalhistoryofinsects,andtheirstudysignificancetohumans.
ReadingWeek
27-Feb / 13 / TwistedSisterGroups:TheStrepsipteraandBeetles(Adephagaandlowerbeetles)(AssignedReading:Chapter10–Beetles)
1-Mar / 14 / TheBeetlesSecondLecture:TheRovebeetles(Staphylinoidea)toclickbeetles(Elateroidea)(AssignedReading:Chapter10)
6-Mar / 15 / TheWhiteLecture:TheLadybeetles(Coccinelloidea),darklingbeetles(Tenebrionoidea),andcheckeredbeetles(Cleroidea)(AssignedReading:Chapter10)
8-Mar / 16 / LetitBeetle:TheFlatbarkbeetles(Cucujoidea),leafbeetles(Chrysomeloidea)andweevils(Curculionoidea)(AssignedReading:Chapter10)
13-
Mar / 17 / Scrapers,Shredders,andCollectors:Thecaddisflies(Trichoptera)(AssignedReading:Chapter8–Caddisflies)
15-
Mar / 18 / TheButterflyEffect:TheMicromothstoButterflies(Lepidoptera)(AssignedReading:Chapter7–ButterfliesandMoths)
20-
Mar / 19 / ASenseofScales:TheMacromoths(Lepidopteracontinued)(AssignedReading:Chapter7)
22-
Mar / 20 / FromthePermiantothePlague:TheScorpionflies(Mecoptera),Fleas(Siphonaptera),andFlies(Diptera)(AssignedReading:Chapter11–FliesScorpionfliesandFleas)
27-
Mar / 21 / DeathonTwoWings:ThebitingNematoceranflies(Dipteracontinued)(AssignedReading:Chapter11)
29-
Mar / 22 / Robber,Dancer,Soldier,Fly:TheOrthorrhapha,danceflies(Empidoidea)andthePlatypezoidea(Dipteracontinued)(AssignedReading:Chapter11)
3-Apr / 23 / ScarFace:TheSchizophora(Dipteracontinued)(AssignedReading:Chapter11)
5-Apr / 24 / Bats,Bots,andBodies:TheCalyptratae(Dipteracontinued)andcoursewrap-up(AssignedReading:Chapter11)
Labs:
Eachlabwillfocusontheidentificationofadifferentgroupofinsects.Dichotomouskeyswillbeusedtoidentifyinsectsandteachthemorphologicalcharactersnecessarytorecognizetheassignedtaxa.PleasenotethatstudentswillnothaveaccesstokeysduringLabTests,andwill berequiredtolearnhowtodistinguishinsectordersandfamilieswithonlyamicroscope.
StudentswillalsohavetimetoworkontheirInsectCollectionassignmentduringlabhours,includinginstructiononcollecting,pinning,labeling,andpreparinganinsectcollection,andtheidentificationofallfamiliesofinsectsthattheymayencounterintheprocess.Studentsshould bepreparedtobringtheirtextbookwiththemtoeverylabtoreinforcethelabexercises,andtousetheidentificationkeyscontainedwithinitfortheirInsectCollection.
LabSchedule:
Lab1(January9):UniversityofGuelphInsectCollectionTourIntroductiontoInsectOrders:WingedAdults
Lab2(January16):HowtoCollectPreserveInsectsIntroductiontoInsectOrders:Wingless AdultsandImmatureForms
Lab3(January23):LabTest1IntroductiontoOrthoptera
Lab4(January30):IntroductiontoHemiptera(note:youshouldbefamiliarwithtaxainboth the"Homoptera""Hemiptera"studyboxes)
Lab5(February6):LabTest2IntroductiontoHymenoptera
Lab6(February13):InsectCollectionPreviewDueIntroductiontoColeoptera1ReadingWeek
Lab7(February27):IntroductiontoColeoptera2
Lab8(March6):LabTest3IntroductiontoLepidoptera Lab9(March13):IntroductiontoDiptera1
Lab10(March20):IntroductiontoDiptera2Lab11(March27):LabTest4
Lab12(April3):FinalInsectCollectionAssignmentDue
LabTestswillbetimedbell-ringertests,primarilytestingtheidentificationskillsofthestudent,butwithsomeshortanswerquestionsthatdrawfromlectureandtextbookmaterial.Students willbeaskedtoidentifyinsectspecimenstothetaxonomicleveltheyhavebeentaughtinprecedinglabs(Orderand/orFamily).Thecorrectspellingoftaxonomicnamesisavitalcomponentofthisassessment.AllLabTestsarecumulative,buttherewillbeagreaterfocusonmateriallearnedsincethepriortest.
LabTest1willtestthestudent'sfamiliaritywiththeidentificationandNaturalHistoryofInsectOrders.
LabTest2willtestthestudent'sfamiliaritywiththeidentificationandNaturalHistoryof OrthopteraandHemiptera(includingboth"Homoptera"and"Hemiptera"studyboxes)inadditiontothematerialtestedinLabTest1.
LabTest3willtestthestudent'sfamiliaritywiththeidentificationandNaturalHistoryof HymenopteraandColeopterainadditiontothematerialtestedinLabTests12.
LabTest4willtestthestudent'sfamiliaritywiththeidentificationandNaturalHistoryof LepidopteraandDipterainadditiontothematerialtestedinLabTests1,2,3.
Seminars:
NotApplicable
CourseAssignmentsandTests:
AssignmentorTest / DueDate / ContributiontoFinalMark(%) / LearningOutcomesAssessedLabTest1 / January23th / 5 / Nomenclature,identificationof commoninsectfamilies,and associationof relevantnatural historyinformation
LabTest2 / February6h / 10
LabTest3 / March6th / 10
LabTest4 / March27th / 15
InsectCollection Preview / February13th / 3 / Experienceincollecting,preparing,andidentifyingOntarioinsects
FullInsectCollection / April3rd / 12
MidTermExam(inclass) / February15th / 20 / Familiaritywiththeclassification,diversity,andnatural historyofinsects
FinalExam(locationTBA) / April10th
(8:30-10:30am) / 25
AdditionalNotes(ifrequired):N/A
Finalexaminationdateandtime:
8:30-10:30am,Tuesday,April10,2018.Room:TBA.PleasecheckWebAdvisorforupdatedexamtime,dateandlocation.
Finalexamweighting:
25%
CourseResources
RequiredTexts:
Insects:TheirNaturalHistoryandDiversity—S.A.Marshall.FireflyBooks(2007or2017).(ISBN1552979008).Onecopyavailableinthelibrary(QL473.M332006).
RecommendedTexts:
EvolutionoftheInsects–D.GrimaldiandM.S.Engel(2005)(ISBN0521821495).Onecopy availableinthelibrary(QL468.7.G75).
BorrorandDeLong’sIntroductiontotheStudyofInsects,7thEd.– C.A.Triplehorn,N.F.Johnson,
andD.J.Borror(2005)(ISBN0030968356).Onecopyisavailableinthelibrary(QL463.B692004).
LabManual:
RefertotheInsectPictureKeysintherequiredtextbook(Marshall2007/2017),aswellastheassignedreadingsassociatedfromlecturesforadditionalinformationonnaturalhistory,evolution,andbiology.
OtherResources:
CourseLink:
Althoughthetextbookiscurrentandfollowedclosely,theCourseLinksiteprovidesauseful forumforupdates,interestinglinksandpost-lectureaddenda,aswellasaconvenientrepositoryforgeneralinformationaboutthecourse.Pleasenote:StudentsmustusetheirUniversityofGuelphcentralloginID (e-mailaccount)andpasswordtologontoCourseLink.Ifyouforgetyourpassword,contactComputingandCommunicationServices.
FieldTrips:
NotApplicable.
AdditionalCosts:
NotApplicable.
CoursePolicies
Missedlabtestsandmidtermexams:Whilelabtestsandmidtermsaretheprimarymeansby whichweevaluateandassigngrades,theyaremoreimportantlyameansforyoutoevaluatehowyouareinterpretingandsynthesizingthematerial,concepts,andtechniquesthatyouhavechosentolearnaboutbyenrollinginthiscourse.Withthatinmind,itisimportant thatyoumakeeveryeffortthroughoutthesemestertotakelabtestsandmidterms.However,ifforanyreasonyouareunabletocompleteatestormidterm,pleasecontacttheinstructororyourprogramcounsellorandalternatearrangementswillbemadetoassigntheweightingofmissedassessmentstothefinallabtestand/orexam.Alternateormake-uptestsandexamswillnotbeavailable.
Lateassignments:InsectCollectionsmustbesubmittedduringyourscheduledlabperiodontheduedate.Latesubmissionswillbeacceptedupuntil4pmontheFridayimmediatelyfollowing theduedate,butwillincura30%penalty.Failuretosubmittheassignmentbythattimewillresultinazerogradefortheassignmentunlessextenuatingcircumstancesareproperlydocumentedbyyourprogramcounsellor.
CoursePolicyonGroupWork:
Whilethereisnoassignedgroupworkforthiscourse,itisrecommendedthatyouworkinpairsorgroupswhencollectinginsects,particularlyifyouwillbevisitinglocalitiesthatcanbedangerousinthewinter(e.g.coldstreams,frozenponds,etc.).Somesharingofspecimensisallowed,butlabeldataforeveryspecimenmustreflecttheactualcollector,andpenaltieswill beappliedifastudent'scollectionismorethan50%materialtheydidnotcollect.Purchasinginsectspecimens,eitheronlineorfrompaststudents,and/orfalsifyinginformationonthelabelsofyourinsectcollectionwillresultinamarkofzerofortheassignment.Datafalsification isanexampleofacademicmisconduct,andwillbetreatedassuchperSectionVIIIoftheUndergraduateCalendar.
CoursePolicyregardinguseofelectronicdevicesandrecordingoflectures:
Youarewelcometouseelectronicdevicesduringlectureandlabs,includingphotographingspecimensduringlabforlaterreview,grantedtheydonotposeadistractiontoneighboringstudents.Electronicdevicesarenottobeusedduringlabtestsorexams.Ifyouwishtorecordlecturesorlabintroductions(eitheraudioorvideo),pleaseasktheinstructororlabsupervisorpriortodoingso.Whenrecordingsarepermittedtheyaresolelyfortheuseoftheauthorizedstudentandmaynotbereproduced,ortransmittedtoothers,withouttheexpresswritten consentoftheinstructor.
UniversityPolicies
AcademicConsideration:
TheUniversityofGuelphiscommittedtosupportingstudentsintheirlearningexperiencesandrespondingtotheirindividualneedsandisawarethatavarietyofsituationsoreventsbeyond thestudent'scontrolmayaffectacademicperformance.Supportisprovidedtoaccommodateacademicneedsinthefaceofpersonaldifficultiesorunforeseeneventsintheformof AcademicConsideration.
InformationonregulationsandproceduresforAcademicConsideration,AppealsandPetitions,includingcategories,grounds,timelinesandappealscanbefoundinSectionVIII (UndergraduateDegreeRegulationsandProcedures)oftheUndergraduateCalendar.
AcademicMisconduct:
TheUniversityofGuelphiscommittedtoupholdingthehigheststandardsofacademicintegrityanditistheresponsibilityofallmembersoftheUniversitycommunity,faculty,staff,andstudentstobeawareofwhatconstitutesacademicmisconductandtodoasmuchaspossible topreventacademicoffencesfromoccurring.
UniversityofGuelphstudentshavetheresponsibilityofabidingbytheUniversity'spolicyonacademicmisconductregardlessoftheirlocationofstudy;faculty,staffandstudentshavetheresponsibilityofsupportinganenvironmentthatdiscouragesmisconduct.Studentsneedtoremainawarethatinstructorshaveaccesstoandtherighttouseelectronicandothermeansof detection.Pleasenote:Whetherornotastudentintendedtocommitacademicmisconductisnotrelevantforafindingofguilt.Hurriedorcarelesssubmissionofassignmentsdoesnotexcusestudentsfromresponsibilityforverifyingtheacademicintegrityoftheirworkbeforesubmittingit.Studentswhoareinanydoubtastowhetheranactionontheirpartcouldbeconstruedasanacademicoffenceshouldconsultwithafacultymemberorfacultyadvisor.
DetailedinformationregardingtheAcademicMisconductpolicyisavailableinSectionVIII (UndergraduateDegreeRegulationsandProcedures)oftheUndergraduateCalendar.
Accessibility:
TheUniversityofGuelphiscommittedtocreatingabarrier-freeenvironment.Providingservicesforstudentsisasharedresponsibilityamongstudents,facultyandadministrators.Thisrelationshipisbasedonrespectofindividualrights,thedignityoftheindividualandtheUniversitycommunity'ssharedcommitmenttoanopenandsupportivelearningenvironment.Studentsrequiringserviceoraccommodation,whetherduetoanidentified,ongoingdisabilityorashort-termdisabilityshouldcontacttheStudentAccessibilityServices(SAS),formerlyCentreforStudentswithDisabilities(CSD),assoonaspossible.
Formoreinformation,visittheStudentAccessibilityServiceswebsite(
CourseEvaluationInformation:
EndofsemestercourseandinstructorevaluationsprovidestudentstheopportunitytohavetheircommentsandopinionsusedasanimportantcomponentintheFacultyTenureand Promotionprocess,andasvaluablefeedbacktohelpinstructorsenhancethequalityoftheirteachingeffectivenessandcoursedelivery.
Whilemanycourseevaluationsareconductedinclassothersarenowconductedonline.PleaserefertotheCourseandInstructorEvaluationWebsiteformoreinformation.
Dropperiod:
Thedropperiodforsinglesemestercoursesstartsatthebeginningoftheaddperiodand extendstotheFortieth(40th)classdayofthecurrentsemester(thelastdatetodropasinglesemestercourseswithoutacademicpenalty)whichislistedinSectionIII(ScheduleofDates)oftheUndergraduateCalendar.
Thedropperiodfortwosemestercoursesstartsatthebeginningoftheaddperiodinthefirstsemesterandextendstothelastdayoftheaddperiodinthesecondsemester.
InformationaboutDroppingCoursescanbefoundinSectionVIII(UndergraduateDegreeRegulationsandProcedures)oftheUndergraduateCalendar.