Course syllabus
Lecture Schedule*
| Week 1 |
Introduction to systematic entomology, course basics; historical considerations.
Biodiversity I: concepts, processes & patterns of global diversity
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| Week 2 |
Biodiversity II: historical patterns of global diversity; extinction; studying biological diversity; biotic surveys; cataloguing and describing diversity
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| Week 3 |
Zoological nomenclature |
| Week 4 |
Phylogenetic systematics: introduction, methods & difficulties.
Biogeography: patterns, process & analytical methods.
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| Week 5 |
Quaternary environments: ice-age communities & significance to insect fauna.
Introduction to Arthropoda. LECTURE EXAM #1 (through Quaternary) [take home]
|
| Week 6 |
Wingless hexapods: Protura, Collembola, Diplura, Microcoryphia, Thysanura.
Introduction to pterygote insects; evolution of wings: ” theories & controversy.
Aerodynamics: basic principles. |
| Week 7 |
Palaeopterous insects: Orders Ephemeroptera, Odonata.
Introduction to neopterous insects: evolution of neoptery, wing modifications.
"Orthopteroid" orders: Orthoptera, Phasmatodea, Grylloblattodea, Mantophasmatodea, Dermaptera, Mantodea, Blattodea, Isoptera. |
| Week 8 |
Plecopteroid orders: Plecoptera, Embiidina, Zoraptera.
Introduction to "Hemipteroid" orders - Psocoptera, Phthiraptera, Thysanoptera. |
| Week 9 |
Hemipteroids II: Order Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha & Auchenorrhyncha. |
| Week 10 |
Order Hemiptera II: Heteroptera.
Introduction to Endopterygotes / "Holometabola"; evolution and success of the Endopterygotes.
Introduction to "Neuropteroid" orders” Neuroptera. |
| Week 11 |
LECTURE EXAM #2 (through hemipteroids) [in class].
Order Coleoptera. |
| Week 12 |
Order Hymenoptera.
Order Strepsiptera: controversies re. relationships. |
| Week 13 |
Introduction to "Panorpoid" orders: Mecoptera, Siphonaptera. |
| Week 14 |
NO CLASS (Thanksgiving) |
| Week 15 |
Order Diptera.
Order Trichoptera. |
| Week 16 |
Order Lepidoptera. |
| Week 17 |
FINAL EXAM |
Laboratory Schedule*
| Week 1 |
Collection, preservation and preparation of insects; construction and use of keys.
Apterygote Orders: Protura, Collembola, Diplura, Microcoryphia, Thysanura.
|
| Week 2 |
Introduction to Pterygote insects, Palaeoptera: Order Ephemeroptera.
Palaeoptera (ctd): Order Odonata; key assignment due.
|
| Week 3 |
Introduction to Orthopteroid Orders: Order Orthoptera.
Orthoptera II: Phasmatodea, Grylloblattodea, Dermaptera, Mantodea, Blattodea, Isoptera. |
| Week 4 |
Orders Plecoptera, Embiidina, Zoraptera.
Introduction to Hemipteroids: Thysanoptera, Psocoptera, Phthiraptera.
|
| Week 5 |
Laboratory Review.
LABORATOR EXAM #1 (through Phthiraptera); work on collections
|
| Week 6 |
Hemipteroids (ctd): Heteroptera. |
| Week 7 |
Hemipteroids (ctd): Sternorrhyncha & Auchenorrhyncha |
| Week 8 |
Introduction to the Endopterygotes: Order Neuroptera.
Order Coleoptera.
|
| Week 9 |
Order Coleoptera (finish). |
| Week 10 |
Laboratory review.
LABORATORY EXAM #2 (through Coleoptera); work on collections
|
| Week 11 |
Order Hymenoptera. |
| Week 12 |
Orders Strepsiptera, Mecoptera, Siphonaptera.
Order Diptera.
|
| Week 13 |
Order Diptera (finish).
Order Trichoptera.
|
| Week 14 |
NO CLASS (Thanksgiving) |
| Week 15 |
Order Lepidoptera; COLLECTIONS DUE Friday, 5:00 PM |
| Week 16 |
Laboratory Review.
LABORATORY FINAL EXAM (emphasis on Endopterygotes).
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* Also note that weekend field trips or evening black-light sessions may be scheduled during the semester; these will provide opportunities to gather specimens for your collections. Malaise samples also will be available for class use.
Updated 2011-11-07 21:47
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