Biology 370 – Field Biology
Course Goals and Objectives
- To learn how to identify, using technical keys and other readily-available resources, the common forms of animals and non-vascular plants encountered in South Carolina, especially the piedmont; emphasis will be on insects, spiders, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, mammals, macroinvertebrates, lichens, bryophytes, and fungi.
- To learn basic facts about the morphology, anatomy, physiology, and natural history of common animals and non-vascular plants.
- To learn to make more-careful, more-detailed and more-accurate observations
about animals and plants in their natural environment.
- To gain an appreciation for the wonder, beauty, and the interrelatedness of
nature.
- To obtain a background that prepares one for a life-long avocation, the study.
and appreciation of nature.
- To provide a background for prospective primary and secondary school
teachers that will enable them to provide their students with knowledge,
understanding, and appreciation for our natural world.
- To learn to recognize in the field common insects, spiders, amphibians,
reptiles, fish, mammals, macroinvertebrates lichens, bryophytes, and fungi.
- To learn techniques for finding and capturing animals.
- To learn the common habitats in the piedmont and the animals associated with
each habitat.
- To learn to make careful observations and to capture those observations on
paper.
Introduction
- to understand the connection between knowledge, appreciation, and protection of natural environments.
- to appreciate how little scientists know about even the most abundant animals.
- to learn how and why amateur naturalists can and are needed to make significant contributions to our knowledge of common plants and animals.
The Art of Seeing and Trapping Observations
- to learn the skills necessary to become fully engaged and successful as
an observer of wildlife.
- to learn to “see” in the way a scientist sees, i.e., by watching, examining
scientifically, and mentally grasping what is observed.
- to learn how to “trap” observations in ways that are reliable and useful.
- to learn what observational information to record, how to record it, how to
organize that information in useful ways.
Arthropods and Insects – Distinguishing Characters
- to learn the updated classification of arthropods and insects.
- to learn those structural features most important in identification.
- to learn the three major developmental pathways of insects.
- to learn about those features of insects that are important to their success.
- to learn important features in the natural history insects, especially concerning flight, antennae types, molting, gall-forming, parental care, and use of sound in communication.
Arthropods: Identification and Natural History
- to learn to identify by sight (from slides) 50 common arthropods
- to learn significant information about the natural history of 50 common arthropods.
Arthropods: Identification
- to learn how to identify common arthropods, mostly insects, from dried
specimens and using a variety of resources, including keys to major
arthropod groups, keys to major insect groups, and picture guides such as Peterson’s field guides.
Taxonomy; Classifying and Naming Insects
- to master basic concepts of taxonomy as relate to identification, nomenclature,
and classification.
- to understand how insects are named and classified.
Succession
- to master the basic concepts associated with ecological succession, especially
the concepts of early successional, mid-successional, and late successional species.
Habitats in South Carolina
- to learn the major ecosystem types in SC.
- to gain familiarity with the major habitats in SC as indicated by species that
dominate each community (via slides of major habitats in each of the four physiographic provinces in SC.
Landforms and bodies of water; climate, soils, and vegetation
- to become acquainted with the major landform regions and physiographic
provinces in SC.
- to be able to distinguish between major coastal plain stream types.
- to gain familiarity with climate and weather in SC.
- to obtain an understanding of features important in determining microclimate.
Spiders: Identification and Natural History
- to learn to recognize features important in the identification of spiders.
- to learn basic patterns of natural history in spiders.
- to learn how to identify the major families of spiders in SC.
Birds: General Features and Natural History
- to learn external features important in the identification of birds
- to learn about those features that distinguish birds from other homeotherms.
- to learn about bird wings and feather types and other features important to flight.
- to master important concepts about seasonal migration, especially as concern navigation and orientation.
- to learn about bird feet, owl adaptations for foraging at night, and a variety of other exciting topics in the natural history of birds.
Common Inland Birds in South Carolina
- to learn to identify by sight (via slides) 55 of the common inland birds in SC.
- to learn important tidbits in natural history for each of the 55 inland birds.
Common Birds: Campus Field Trip
- to learn to recognize in the field the 15-20 birds most commonly found at bird
feeders.
Amphibians: General Features and Natural History
- to learn external features important in the identification of amphibians.
- to learn important features that distinguish amphibians from other vertebrates.
- to learn to identify by sight (from slides) 20 of the amphibians common to SC.
- to learn important tidbits in natural history for each of the 20 species of amphibians.
Identification of Common Amphibians
- to learn how to identify common amphibians using a variety of resources,
including technical keys and the Peterson’s Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians.
Reptiles: General Features and Natural History; Common Reptiles in South Carolina
- to learn about those features that allowed reptiles to become the first truly
terrestrial vertebrates.
- to learn external features important in the identification of reptiles.
- to learn important features of the structure and physiology of reptiles.
- to learn to identify by sight (via slides) 35 of the reptiles common to SC.
- to learn important tidbits of natural history about the 35 species of reptiles.
Identification of Common Reptiles
- to learn to identify common reptiles using a variety of resources, including
technical keys and the Peterson Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians.
Common Wading Birds and Shore Birds
- to learn to identify by sight (from slides) 50+ of the common species of wading birds and shore birds.
- to learn important tidbits of natural history about each of the species of wading birds and shore birds, in preparation for the weekend field trip to Bear Island WMA and Donnelly WMA.
Fungi: General Features and Natural History: Common Fungi in South Carolina
- to learn important features in the classification and identification of fungi.
- to learn important features in the biology and ecology of fungi.
- to learn to identify by sight (via slides) 20 of the fungi common to SC.
- to learn important tidbits in the natural history of 20 fungi.
Identification of Fungi
- to learn to identify common fungi using a variety of resources, including
keys to major groups of fungi, but mostly by scanning picture guides (Peterson, Audubon, and others).
Mosses: General Features and Identification
- to learn important external and microscopic features important in the
identification of mosses, liverworts and hornworts (bryophytes).
to learn important features in the biology and ecology of bryophytes
- to learn to identify by sight (via slides) 15 of the mosses common to SC.
- to learn to important tidbits about the natural history of common mosses.
Mammals : General Features; Identification of Common Mammals; Tracks and Signs
- to learn the classification of the major groups of mammals
- to learn to identify the major orders of mammals and many common species of mammals by sight (via slides)
- to learn important features in the natural history of mammals
- to learn to identify by sight (via slides)15 common tracks and other animal signs.
Mammals: Identification using skull characters
- to learn to what a dental formulas are and how they can be used in the
identification of mammals by skull characteristics.
- to learn to use external skull characters in the identification of mammals.
Lichens: General Characteristics and Identification
- to learn characters important to the biology and ecology of lichens
- to become acquainted with external characteristics important in the
identification of lichens.
- to learn to identify common lichens using a technical key.
Aquatic Insects: General Features and Identification
- to become acquainted with general features important to the biology and
ecology of aquatic macroinvertebrates.
- to learn to identify major groups of aquatic macroinvertebrates using technical
- keys.
Freshwater Fish: General Characteristics; Common Fish in South Carolina
- to learn important features in the biology and ecology of fish, especially as
- relate to habitat and lifestyle anatomy and physiology, and reproduction and early development.
- to learn to recognize major families of fish and 30 of the fish species common to SC.
- to learn important natural history tidbits about 30 fish common to SC.
Fish Identification
- to learn to identify fish using a variety of resources, including technical keys
and picture guides such as Peterson’s Field Guide to the Freshwater Fish of North America.