EXPLORATION OF THE MT. TABOR COMMUNITY

The intent of this exercise is to explore the species diversity within a local community (Mt. Tabor) and then apply your skills as a taxonomist to categorize and describe the species observed and collected. You should spend no less than 1 hour in the field and, although you will work individually, it is suggested that you stay in pairs or groups as you walk through the park.

Materials Needed  clipboard  bucket or large sack (backpack OK)  sample bags (10)  writing utensil  marker

Procedure While walking the trails and open spaces of Mt. Tabor (preferably starting at the school and working your way up the hill)… 1. Collect 10 specimens for examination (e.g., insect, leaf, pine cone, feather, mushroom, small plant, etc.) that conform to the following guidelines: a. Samples must be living organisms (or previously living organisms, or parts of living organisms) and should include representatives of at least 3 kingdoms (Animalia, Plantae, Fungi and/or Protista - we'll exclude the bacteria for this exercise). b. Subsequent samples should be collected no closer than 15 meters (approx. 30) yards from the previous sample (i.e., I want you to move around a bit – explore the hill!). 2. At each sample point, place the specimen collected in a labeled bag (sample 1, sample 2, etc.) and take notes on the following: a. How the sample was obtained (i.e., found on ground, picked from plant, etc.) b. A description of the area (i.e., open grassy field, wooded area, lots of shrubs, heavily shaded, open sunlight, etc.). c. The approximate number of identical objects to the one you collected (e.g., this was the only one, there were hundreds laying all over the ground, etc.). 3. After collecting the samples and making observation notes, return the lab materials and do the following for each sample collected (this should be typed): a. List the sample number. b. Identify the specimen by common name or description (i.e., pine cone, grass, mushroom, etc.). c. Classify the sample based on the taxonomic systems used in previous labs (see examples on back). d. Write 1-2 sentences briefly describing either the function of the structure collected or a distinguishing characteristic of the specimen that is used in its classification. e. Record your observational notes from where the sample was collected. 4. Turn in the typed work with the sample bags for reference.

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Plants:

Non-tracheophytes (“non-vascular” plants) Tracheophytes (vascular plants)

Seedless Plants Seed-bearing Plants

Gymnosperms (“naked seed”) Angiosperms (flowering plants)

Monocots Dicots

Animals:

BODY SYMMETRY

Asymetrical Radial Bilateral

Porifera Cnidaria Ctenophora BODY CAVITIES

Coelomate Pseudocoelomate Acoelomate

DEVELOPMENT Nematoda Platyhelminthes

Protostome Deuterostome

Molluska Annelida Arthropoda Echinodermata Chordata

Fungi: Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, Zygomycota, Fungi Imperfecti

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