General Biology II Lab Practical II Review

General Biology II Lab Practical II Review

Fungi and Plant Diversity - Lab 6

  • Key Terms:
      - Chitin: A long-chain polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, a derivative of glucose, that is a key component of the cell walls in fungi.
      - Mycelium: The vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of fine white filaments (hyphae).
      - Hyphae: The long, branching filamentous structure of a fungus.
      - Saprobes: Organisms that obtain nutrients by decomposing organic matter.
      - Parasites: Organisms that live on or in a host and benefit at the host's expense.
      - Mutualist symbiotes: Organisms that engage in a symbiotic relationship where both partners benefit.
      - Fermenters: Organisms that convert carbohydrates into alcohol or organic acids using microorganisms under anaerobic conditions.
      - Haploid: An organism or cell having only one complete set of chromosomes.
      - Diploid: An organism or cell having two complete sets of chromosomes.
      - Bryophyte: A non-vascular land plant such as mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.
      - Pteridophyte: A vascular plant that reproduces via spores, such as ferns.

  • Visual Identifications:
      - Be able to label provided images concerning fungi and plants.
      - Identify three types of lichens: Fruticose, Foliose, and Crustose.
      - Identify plants such as Horsetails, Ferns, and Hornworts.
      - Recognize male and female pinecones.

Plant Diversity II - Lab 7

  • Key Terms:
      - Gymnosperms: Seed-producing plants that do not form flowers or fruits, including conifers.
      - Angiosperms: Flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed in fruit.
      - Seed Coat: The protective outer covering of a seed.
      - Embryo: The developing stage of a seed plant that will grow into a new plant.
      - Endosperm: A nutrient-rich tissue that provides nourishment to the developing embryo in seeds.
      - Cotyledon: The first leaf or leaves that appear from a germinating seed.
      - Dicot (Dicotyledon): A group of flowering plants whose seeds typically contain two embryonic leaves.
      - Monocot (Monocotyledon): A group of flowering plants whose seeds typically contain one embryonic leaf.
      - Xylem: Vascular tissue in plants responsible for transporting water and nutrients from the roots.
      - Phloem: Vascular tissue in plants responsible for transporting sugars and other metabolic products downward from the leaves.

  • Seed Dispersal Methods:
      - Understand the three major methods of seed dispersal.

  • Gymnosperms Classification:
      - Know the four main kinds of gymnosperms.

  • Visual Identification:
      - Be able to identify provided images related to gymnosperms and angiosperms.

Basic Ecology Lab - Lab 8

  • Key Terminology:
      - Abiotic vs Biotic: Distinction between non-living (abiotic) and living (biotic) components of ecosystems.
      - Levels of Study in Ecology: Individual, Population, Community, Ecosystem, and Biosphere.
      - Interspecific and Intraspecific:
        - Interspecific: Interactions between different species.
        - Intraspecific: Interactions within the same species.
      - Experimental Designs: Understanding the four fundamental experimental designs used in ecological studies.
      - Discrete vs Continuous: Definitions and designs relating to data collection.
      - Purpose of Shannon’s Diversity: A measure used to quantify the biodiversity in a community.
      - t-Testing: A statistical test used to determine if there is a significant difference between the means of two groups.

  • Correlation and Causation:
      - Clarification that correlation does not imply causation in scientific research.

Animal Diversity I - Lab 9

  • Key Terms:
      - Three Body Parts of Mollusca: Foot, Visceral mass, and Mantle.
      - Developmental Stages: Understand and recognize concepts such as Zygote, Blastula, Cleavage, and Gastrula.
      - Coelom Types: Definitions of Coelomate, Acoelomate, and Pseudocoelomate.

  • Visual Identifications:
      - Be able to recognize given images showing various animal phyla including Porifera, Annelida, Nematoda, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, and Arthropoda.

Animal Diversity II - Lab 10

  • Subphyla Identification:
      - Be able to identify key features and images of the subphyla Urochordata, Cephalochordata, and Vertebrata.

  • Animal Groups Identification:
      - Be able to identify and classify groups such as Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish), Agnatha (jawless fish), Amphibians, Osteichthyes (bony fish), Mammals, Reptiles, and Aves (birds) based on images.

  • Lab Snake's Name:
      - Memorize the name of the new lab snake.

  • Starfish Anatomy:
      - Identify key anatomical features.

  • Echinoderms Features:
      - Recognize and identify key features of the phylum Echinodermata.

  • Chordates Features:
      - Identify key characteristics of chordates.

  • Visual Identifications:
      - Engagement with images that require labeling.

Vertebrate Anatomy - Lab 11

  • Key Terminology:
      - Anatomy: The study of the structure of organisms.
      - Physiology: The study of the functions of living organisms.
      - Saggital, Coronal (Frontal), Transverse: Planes of section in anatomical studies.
      - Directional Terms:
        - Posterior to Anterior: Back to front.
        - Ventral to Dorsal: Belly to back.
        - Rostral to Caudal: Towards the head to towards the tail.
        - Medial to Lateral: Middle to the sides.
        - Superior to Inferior: Above to below.
        - Proximal to Distal: Closer to the trunk to further from the trunk.

  • Organ Systems:
      - Know the functions and definitions of various organ systems.

  • Visual Identifications:
      - Engage with images that require anatomical identification.

Identification of Fungi and Plants

  • Key Characteristics: When identifying species, focus on the distinct characteristics that differentiate one type from another. For fungi and plants, consider:

    • Morphology: Observe the shape, size, color, texture, and structural details of the organism. This includes checking the size of the mycelium in fungi or leaf shapes in plants.

    • Reproductive Structures: Identify spores in fungi or flowers in angiosperms, which can be crucial for classification. For example, observe the arrangement and type of petals to differentiate between species.

    • Habitat: Note the environment where the organism is found, as certain species thrive in specific conditions (e.g., moist areas for bryophytes).

Visual Identification Techniques

  • Images and Schematics: Practice by labeling images of different organism types. Use diagrams to understand the anatomy of plants and fungi, noting critical features like leaf arrangements or fruit types.

    • Lichens: Identify lichens by their growth forms - Fruticose (branching), Foliose (leaf-like), and Crustose (flat against the surface). Each form presents unique growth patterns that help pinpoint species.

Identification of Gymnosperms and Angiosperms

  • Gymnosperms: Focus on identifying the type of cones and leaf (needle-like or broad) characteristics to classify different genera within gymnosperms.

    • Examples include:

    • Conifers: Recognize needle leaves and seed cones.

    • Cycads: Look for stout trunk and palmlike leaves.

  • Angiosperms: Determine flowering plants by the presence of flowers and fruits. Familiarize yourself with the structure of the flower (petals, sepals, ovary) and the types of fruits (berry, capsule, drupe).

Basic Ecology and Animal Diversity Identification

  • Animal Phyla: Utilize key visual traits for identification:

    • Porifera: Sponges; filter feeders; differentiated by pore structures.

    • Cnidaria: Jellyfish and corals; look for tentacles and stinging cells (nematocysts).

    • Annelida: Segmented worms, recognizable by their body segmentation.

Tools for Identification

  • Field Guides: Use comprehensive field guides specific to the region or organism type, which provide images, descriptions, and comparison charts to aid in identification.

  • Apps and Technology: Leverage modern technology with apps and online databases that assist in identifying species based on images or characteristics entered by the user.

    • These can provide additional layers of information, such as habitat specifics and distribution information, which can support correct identification.

Practicing Identification

  • Field Work: Engage in hands-on practice by visiting diverse habitats and attempting to identify various species using the above techniques. Keeping a journal of observations can be beneficial for refining identification skills over time.

  • Collaboration: Work with peers or mentors in the field to discuss and confirm identifications, thereby enhancing learning through shared knowledge and experiences.

  1. Quizzes and Practice Tests:

    • Quizlet: Search for quizzes on taxonomy and species identification; many user-generated decks are available.

    • Kahoot: Great for interactive quizzes on various biological topics.

    • Biology Online: Offers practice questions related to various biological concepts.

    • Khan Academy: Provides comprehensive practice questions and videos on biology topics.

  2. Flashcards:

    • Anki: Create custom flashcards or download existing decks focusing on taxonomy and identification.

    • Quizlet: Contains numerous decks that cover key terms and species identification.

    • Cram.com: Another platform for easy-to-use flashcards.

  3. Identification Guides:

    • Field Guides: Look for printed guides that specialize in local flora and fauna for detailed images and descriptions.

    • Apps:

      • iNaturalist: Use your camera to identify organisms based on photographs.

      • PlantSnap: Identifies plants from pictures and gives detailed info.

  4. Visual Identification:

    • YouTube: Search for videos on plant and animal identification for visual guidance.

    • University Websites: Many universities have online resources or databases for identifying species by images.