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BIOGEOGRAPHY LABS WRITING THE REPORT: Examples for the armadillo (currently NOT available)
Lab activities constitute 30% of your grade (report [first and second drafts = 15%], presentation 10%, other lab exercises and participation 5%). Biogeography Paper and Presentation: In groups of three or less, we would like you to investigate the biogeography of some of the world's most interesting organisms and present your findings in both a technical report and an entertaining and informative 15 to 20-minute presentation. You'll be asked to explain aspects of your organisms throughout the class.
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Papers should include the following three sections: Modern or most recent distribution and life history:
include a species distribution map with a caption and reference. Include
a description of the range with an explanation of why the limits exist
where they do (e.g., temperature, topography).
Life history: Discuss its habitat and niche during different life
phases (where does it live, what does it do during different parts of
its life, what is does it eat, when does it reproduce, how long does it
live, what other species is it closely associated with, etc.?) Biogeographic
history:
where and when does it first appear in the geologic record, what are its
evolutionary ancestors, how was its range affected by plate tectonics
and the ice ages? Where are the fossil sites (give geologic formation,
age, and location as well as name of ancestral species). To get
enough information, you may have to answer this question on a higher
taxonomic level than species. For example, you may have to examine the
evolutionary history of butterflies in general, rather than monarch
butterflies. Human
impact on its distribution: Is it threatened, thriving, extinct? What is the current status of the
organism & how many are there? What efforts are being made in terms
of conservation for endangered species or removal/eradication of
invasive or exotic species? Your
paper should be 5 - 6 pages, double-spaced, and include a bibliography.
Each team turns in one copy, and all three members will receive
the same grade. Distribution
map and all figures require a caption in your own words and a reference
to the bibliographic source. The
bibliography should be in the style of the Journal of Biogeography or
Ecology. Be
sure to include proper scientific citations for any ideas that you
paraphrase; no direct quotes or footnotes.
URL (web page) references are okay only if you include
reference to the peer-review publication from which the information was
taken. (If you can’t get this information DO NOT USE THE WEB
PAGE). Have
questions on style? Ask! |
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Here is the list of organisms to choose from: |
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GRADUATE
STUDENTS taking Geog. 605 should do an individual paper on one of these
organisms/topics: Southern
beech (Nothofagus) Common
wombat (Vombatus hirsutus) Cloud forest
of Central America California
fan palm (Washingtonia filifera) Anolis
lizards of West Indies Cichlidae
fishes in Africa Giant panda
(Ailuropoda) Coelacanth (Latimeria) King bird of
paradise (Paradisaea apoda) Frigatebirds
(Fregatidae) Endemism on
Madagascar Evolution of
whales coconut palm
(Cocos nucifera) pikas (Ochotona
princeps) orangutan (Pongo) giant tortoises (Geochelone)
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