BIO 208L
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Laboratory Practical Review

 

Brackenridge Field Laboratory -

  • Be familiar with the facilities where we have worked all semester.

Parts of a Scientific Paper -

  • Know the different parts of a scientific paper.
  • Go over issues of formatting (figures, tables, literature cited, etc..)

Searching the literature/library resources -

  • Know the names of the basic literature searching tools available to you at the University of Texas.
  • Be familiar with examples of electronic journals and indexes & abstracts available through UT.
  • Be able to find an article in an electronic journal and copy it to MS Word.

Using MS Excel -

  • Be familiar with the Data Analysis Tool Pack add-in in MS Excel.   
  • Be able to use any of the various tools we discussed (ANOVA, regression, correlation, descriptive stats, histogram).

Using GPS

  • Be familiar with the basic operation of the ETrex series GPS units
  • Know how to mark and recall a waypoint

Dispersion of Trees

  • Given any formulas you may need, be able to analyze data similar to that which you collected for this lab.
  • Be able to interpret the results from this data (e.g. V/M ration and the pattern of dispersion).
  • Be able to create a graph of the spatial distribution of the above data
  • Be able to include DBH on the above graph

Fire Ant Food Choice -

  • Be able to setup a table of data in MS Excel.
  • Be able to recognize a Fire Ant (Solenopsis).

Population Age Structure & Survivorship -

  • Be able to generate Life Tables, Age Pyramids & Survivorship Curves given the data (you don't need to memorize formulas within a life table).
  • Be able to interpret any of the above if given to you.

Introduction to Plants -

  • Recognize the basic parts of a plant
  • Know the proper procedure for collecting/curating plants
  • Know how to use and or construct a dichotomous key
  • Be able to recognize some common plants/trees we have worked with at BFL.  You should know both scientific and common names of these.

Species Area Curve -

  • Be able to generate a species area curve given a data set.
  • Be able to plot the above both on arithmetic and logarithmic axes.
  • Be able to interpret the species area curve equations.

Introduction to Entomology -

  • Know and be able to recognize the following orders of insects by sight; Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Odonata, Hymenoptera, and Diptera
  • Be able to key out (with the provided key) insects to the ordinal level
  • Recognize the basic parts of an insect
  • Know the various ways to correctly curate insects
  • Recognize the various tools used to collect insects

Population Estimates -

  • Be able to estimate a population's size using any of the three methods discussed.
  • Be able to recognize a Harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) and a mealworm (Tenebrio molitor).

Biomonitoring and Rapid Bioassessment -

  • Be able to recognize the various aquatic macroinvertebrates we learned about in this lab.
  • Be able to discuss the importance of habitat assessment in biomonitoring.
  • Be able to calculate a biotic index.
  • Be able to plot the biotic and habitat indexes on a graph and interpret the health of the stream.

Additional things to consider -

  • Be familiar with the proper way to format figures as described by VEM or Ecology.
  • Be familiar with the proper way to format tables as described by VEM or Ecology.
 

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