Environmental Biology

COURSE OUTLINES

**ENVB*4270**

INSECT BIOSYSTEMATICS

WINTER 2009 (not offered W'10)
Department of Environmental Biology

Instructor: Dr. S.A. Marshall (ECBL Rm. 1211, Ext. 52720, samarsha@uoguelph.ca)

Lecture: Wednesday, Friday, 12:30-1:20 p.m. (GRHM2302)

Lab: Friday, 1:30-4:20 (GRHM1316)

Course Objectives

Overview the science of systematics in an entomological context.
Overview the taxonomy and systematics of major insect groups.
Develop practical skills in insect identification and related entomological techniques.

Textbook

Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity - S.A. Marshall. Firefly Books (2006). ISBN 1552979008. (Strongly Recommended)

Useful Links

Lecture Schedule

This is a small class, and lectures tend to be flexible, often evolving in different directions according to student interests. We will start out with a few lectures covering the basics of systematics, then briefly overview the entire Insecta from a biosystematic perspective. Here is a tentative schedule:

Introduction, approaches to insect taxonomy.
Apterygota and insect higher classification.
Nomenclature and History.
Palaeoptera.
Principles of phylogenetics and an introduction to phylogenetic methodology.
Orthopteroids.
Orthoptera.
Homoptera classification and the the Phthiraptera problem.
Hemipteroid identification.
Lepidoptera.
Anatomy of a revision.
Trichoptera and Lepidoptera.
Alternative approaches to insect identification.
Coleoptera.
Coleoptera, Neuroptera, Mecoptera.
Diptera.
Phylogenetic methodology; Dipteran examples.
Diptera.
Diptera.
Hymenoptera.
Hymenoptera.
Insect zoogeography.
Insect systematics in Canada.

Marking Scheme

The emphasis in this course is on field and laboratory experience and the bulk of your mark will reflect the time you have spent learning to identify insects. There is no final and only one mid-term exam (worth 15%). The remainder of your mark is based on the following criteria:

(1) Required insect collection - A collection of properly prepared and labeled insects identified to family or subfamily plus one group (of your choice, but preferably the same group you do your literature review on) identified to genus or species. The collection is worth 50% of the course - 40% based on the number of correctly identified taxa and 10% based on collection quality. You will need about 100 correctly identified families to pass the course, and about 230 correctly identified families to exceed 80%. You will be provided with bulk insect samples typical of current biodiversity research, and you may supplement your collection from these samples. Up to 50% of your collection may be compiled from these samples, but you will get more out of the course if you work with specimens you have collected yourself. You may substitute identified photographs or digital images for specimens, but they must be your original images and they must be labeled to the same standard as specimens. Identifiable artifacts (cases, mines, frass, cast skins, etc) are acceptable as specimens.

(2) Literature review on the taxon of your choice, including a complete search on the taxon name and discussion of recent work on the group. Ideally, you should combine your review with some hands-on taxonomy with specimens of your taxon. Include and explain a synonymy for the taxon, and list the abstracting journals etc. used to trace the taxon name and tap recent literature. You are encouraged to submit your literature review two weeks prior to the final due date, in which case it will be marked and returned to you one week before the due date. You may then re-submit it on the due date for re-marking if you wish (worth 25%)

(3) Key project. Prepare and submit both dichotomous and matrix keys to a group of your choice. Most students will want to work on the same group of insects chosen for their literature review, but you may prefer to prepare keys at a higher categorical level or to another group. Software will be provided for the construction of your matrix key. Keep it simple (I would suggest you prepare a key to between 10 and 20 taxa) since this is only worth 10%.

Important Dates

Midterm Exam	TBA
Literature Review Due Date	TBA
Key Project Due Date	TBA
Collection Due Date	TBA

ENVB*4270 - LITERATURE REVIEW

Real-life problems in biosystematics often involve correct identification of an organism, pursuit of all existing literature on the taxon to which that organism belongs, and the directed interpretation of the literature on that taxon and its near relatives. For this literature review, you are to choose a taxon and start off by doing a thorough library search on the taxon name. You must trace the origin of the taxon name and ascertain any changes that name has undergone since the taxon was discovered. Record all papers relative to the systematics of this taxon. Record the steps you take to compile this basic information (i.e. searched Zoological Records 1890-1950, found revision by Smith published 1949, searched for Smith in Science Citation etc., etc.).

Having compiled a basic list of references, write a paper on your taxon with respect to the general subject areas covered in this course. I would suggest the following sections:

A) Nomenclatorial history: Demonstrate your understanding of changes in name, status, etc. Do not just copy a synonymy from the literature.

B) Taxonomy: Are there keys available? To what level and for what region? Have you tried them out? Some students make this a major part of their paper, including rewritten or new keys and extensive discussions of the Canadian fauna.

C) Systematics: What about speciation, phylogeny and zoogeography? Be critical of existing literature if there is any; otherwise the field is open for your speculation. Have a go at putting together a phylogenetic diagram, just to play with the ideas of phylogenetic systematics.

D) Overview the taxon: What remains to be discovered? What questions would you pursue as a researcher on this group, and how?

These are only suggestions -- each taxon will lead you in different directions. You should bear in mind that the closer you keep your paper to course content, the more use it will be to you when you write your exam.

ENVB*4270 - LABS

Labs in ENVB*4270 are open format, but you are urged to stay ahead of the schedule below. Do not make the mistake of skipping labs because there are no specific weekly assignments! Help will be available in the lab all Friday afternoons. Limited space is sometimes available in the systematics research lab (Rm. 1214) and you may also use available space during the ENVB*3090 labs. Every effort will be made to give you access to the lab outside the scheduled period.

The emphasis of the lab time should be on your own collection, which should be organized and error-free by the end of March.

SUGGESTED LABORATORY SCHEDULE

Sort unknowns to order and familiar families; familiarize yourself with the equipment.

Identify all Apterygotes, Palaeoptera, Orthopteroids.
Identify all Hemipteroids. Use lecture handout to check Palaeoptera. Slide mount lice, fleas and entognaths not yet identified.
Lepidoptera, Trichoptera. Use lecture handout to check Orthopteroids.
Misc. orders - Neuroptera, Mecoptera. Use lecture handout to check Hemipteroids, finish Lepidoptera, Trichoptera.
Coleoptera.
Coleoptera.
Diptera.
Diptera.
Hymenoptera.
Work on Diptera, Hymenoptera.
Overview and improve collection.
Check things over. Re-key errors.

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU PREPARE YOUR OWN INSECT COLLECTION PRIOR TO THE COURSE - SOME STUDENTS DO COMPLETE THE COLLECTION REQUIREMENT DURING THE COURSE, BUT YOU WILL ENJOY THE EXERCISE MORE AND GET MORE OUT OF IT IF YOU MAKE YOUR COLLECTION DURING THE SUMMER. INSTRUCTIONS AND EQUIPMENT (DEPOSIT REQUIRED) ARE AVAILABLE IN THE SYSTEMATICS LABORATORY, GRAHAM HALL 1214. YOUR TEXTBOOK INCLUDES KEYS AND GOOD GUIDELINES FOR MAKING AN INSECT COLLECTION.

Academic Misconduct

It is the student's responsibility to read and to comply with the policies regarding academic misconduct at the University of Guelph (see the Undergraduate Calendar section on Academic Misconduct). Of particular relevance to this course is honesty during exams, honesty in written assignments, honesty with respect to medical excuses, and plagiarism. In fairness to you and to other students, academic misconduct will not be tolerated and will be dealt with firmly.

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