Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences Volume 48 October 2003 Number 4 Contents Research Articles Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences 165 Initiating a Field Biology Program for Undergradu- Editor ates—Sarah L. Armstrong Kenneth J. Curry University of Southern Mississippi 169 Evaluating Diversity: A Baseline Study Comparing the Associate Editors Diversity of the Order Diptera in Two Distinct Sites in the Maria F.T. Begonia Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico—Robert C. Caskey and James Jackson State University P. McKeown Maureen Corcoran Waterways Experiment Station 174 A List of Coleopteran Families Found in Disturbed and Ibrahim O. Farah Undisturbed Areas in Yucatan, Mexico—James S. Goode and Jackson State University James P. McKeown Timothy C. Lockley USDA APHIS PPQ IFA 177 A Comparative Study of Hymenopteran Diversity between Kiuic Research Station and Hacienda Tabi in the Yucatan Todd G. Nick Peninsula of Mexico—Barrot H. Lambdin and James P. McKe- Univ. of Mississippi Medical Center own Robin Rockhold Univ. of Mississippi Medical Center 181 Geology of the Walnut Miss.–Tenn. 7.5 Minute Topographic Abstracts Editor Quadrangle—Charles T. Swann John Boyle Mississippi State University Departments The Journal of the Mississippi Acad- 162 Guest Editorial—Rob Rockhold emy of Sciences (ISSN 0076-9436) is published in January (annual meeting abstracts), April, July, and October, by 193 Mississippi Academy of Sciences Retreat the Mississippi Academy of Sciences. Members of the Academy receive the journal as part of their regular (non- 196 President’s Column—Hamed Benghuzzi student) membership. Inqueries regard- ing subscriptions, availability of back issues, and address changes should be 196 Executive Officer’s Column—Charles Swann addressed to The Mississippi Academy of Sciences, Post Office Box 55709, Jackson, MS 39296; 601-977-0627; 197 2003 Annual Meeting Abstract (supplement) [email protected]. Manuscripts and inquiries about publication and information about adver- 198 Miss. Junior Academy of Sci.: Call for Papers and Judges tising should be sent to the editor: Ken- neth J. Curry, University of Southern Mississippi, Post Office Box 5018, 199 Call for MAS Awards Nominations Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5018. 601-266-4930 (voice & fax) [email protected]. 200 Invited Speakers for the 2004 Annual Meeting 205 2004 Annual Meeting Abstract Form and Instructions OFFICERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI ACADEMY OF SCIENCES President ...................................... Hamed Benghuzzi President-Elect .................................Sarah Lea McGuire Immediate Past-President ...................... Robert C. Bateman, Jr. Executive Officer .................................. Charles Swann Journal Editor ....................................Kenneth J. Curry Junior Academy Director ............................. Aimée T. Lee Directors .......................................... Dick Highfill Maria Begonia Roy Duhé Administrative Assistant ............................... Cynthia Huff Guest Editorial “Literary or scientific, liberal or specialist, all our education is predominantly verbal and therefore fails to accomplish what it is supposed to do. Instead of transforming children into fully developed adults, it turns out students of the natural sciences who are completely unaware of Nature as the primary fact of experience, it inflicts upon the world students of humanities who know nothing of humanity, their own or anyone else's.”—Aldous Huxley The present issue of the Journal contains a series of growth of an enduring, life-long nature. Surely, this is an four related papers, each of which focuses on a particular exemplar of an educational structure to which we all aspect of the insect biology of a natural preserve, the aspire. Helen Moyers Biocultural Reserve in Yucatan, Mexico. The review process for these manuscripts has identi- Collectively, they represent the first descriptions of and fied a relative lack of sophistication to the scientific rigor scientific outcomes from a burgeoning experiment in of the entomological accounts. This Journal utilizes an experiential learning that is being undertaken by the editorial oversight and system of extremely qualified faculty of the Department of Biology at Millsaps College. scientists, who are dedicated to maintaining the highest The first of these is a general description of the Reserve possible standards in the material accepted for publication. and the process that led to initiation of the experimental However, in the opinion of this Associate Editor, the collections. The remaining three of the four were written power of the ideas that underlie the creation and use of the by the undergraduate students who performed the re- Reserve, and the processes of education that are inherent search and co-authored by a Millsaps faculty member. It to those students who have worked and will work in is still relatively unusual, although certainly not unheard studies there, make the reports in question of unique of, for this Academy to publish manuscripts written by value. Just as the gestation, birth and early development undergraduate students. However, the development of of a new organism require modification of the life-style the Biocultural Reserve, with an impetus that is almost and thought processes of the parents (and those surround- exclusively educational in its orientation, comprises such ing the parents), the implementation of an educational a bold and far-reaching effort that it deserves particular paradigm involving students who utilize the resources of attention. A specific intent, as outlined in the initial the Reserve demands certain initial compromises. With- report by Dr. Armstrong, is to develop the Reserve as a out question, as grows the sophis tication of the scientific training ground for students in the ecological, biological, endeavor begun so boldly, and on such limited resources, botanical, and in the archeological sciences. Understated so also will grow the expectations of the scrutiny that will in her descriptions is the fact that much, if not most, of be applied to the science that results. The faculty and the learning that will take place by students will be in students who began this odyssey, and the reviewers who communication and interpersonal skills, self-confidence, facilitated the publication path are to be congratu- independence and reflection. In other words, personal lated.—Rob Rockhold, Associate Editor 162 Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences Premier Exhibitors In addition to their participation in our annual meeting, these exhibitors continue to support the Academy and ask for your support! Base Pairs Fisher Scientific Company LLC Dr. Robin Rockhold Ms Susie Emfinger University of Mississippi Medical Center Account Representative 2500 North State St. 9999 Veterans Memorial Drive Jackson, MS 39216-4505 Houston, TX 77038-2499 601-984-1634 (phone) 800-955-999 X6135 (phone) [email protected] 601-825-0711 (fax) [email protected] Beckman Coulter Mr. Dennis K. Dahmer Micro-Performance Scientific Consultants, Inc. Mr. Jimmie Smith PO Box 82010 Regional Manager Baton Rouge, LA 70884 165 Mill Chase 1-800-835-7941 (phone) Covington, GA 30016 [email protected] 770-385-8700 (phone) 770-385-8701 (fax) Biomedical Solutions, Inc. [email protected] Ms Annette Gilligan 8402 Livingston Ave. Mississippi Center for Supercomputing Research Chalmette, LA 70043 Mr. David G. Roach 866.674.7220 x 207 (toll free) Director [email protected] Office of Information Technology, The University of Mississippi Department of Polymer Science 303 Powers Hall Marek W. Urban, Ph.D. University, MS 38677 Director, NSF Materials Research Sciences and [email protected] Engineering Box 10076 Scimetrics, Inc. Hattiesburg, MS 39406 Mr. Jeff Case (601) 266-6868 (phone) 20 Parlange Dr. (601) 266-5504 (fax) Destrehan, LA 70047 [email protected] 800-231-2065 x120 (phone) 504-764-0564 (fax) [email protected] Swift Instruments, Inc. Mr. Jim Vandygriff 614 Green Hills Rd. Duncanville, TX 75137 972-780-1065 (phone) [email protected] 164 Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences Initiating a Field Biology Program for Undergraduates Sarah L. Armstrong Department of Biology, Millsaps College, Jackson, MS 39210 Starting a new field biology program at a loca- cost $85 plus photograph), although a certified birth tion remote from one’s home campus is a complex certificate with photo ID is accepted by the U.S. undertaking. Considerable advance planning is Immigration Service for return to the United States. necessary to bring the site, the equipment and the Visa forms are distributed by the airline, and are people together in a productive working arrange- included in the ticket price. ment. To start a field program in an isolated rural Although there are currently no specific health area in another country, with the attendant problems advisories in effect for the area, we encourage our of language, cultural differences, and transporting students to take the obvious precautions of using a personnel and equipment across international bound- DEET-based insect repellent, drinking only bottled aries, increases the logistical difficulties immensely. water or other beverages, and eating only cooked In the summer of 2002, my colleague Jim McKeown fruits and vegetables or those that they peel them- and I initiated a field biology research program for selves. The Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc. undergraduates at the Helen Moyers Biocultural gov/travel) also