Microscopy and Soil Invertebrates – Knowledge and Skills Checklist

 Microscopy

·       Proper handling, care, and cleaning of stereo (dissecting) microscope

·       Types of lenses and how total magnification of microscope is determined and manipulated during use

·       How to get both ocular lenses in focus at the same time and how to manipulate overall focus

·       Understand the relationship between changing magnification and size of the field of view and depth of focus

 Soil Invertebrates

·        Be able to list at least 3 Phyla of soil invertebrates, with an example of each.

·        Know at least 4 morphological traits shared by all arthropods.

·        List at least 3 Classes of arthropods and know the morphological characteristics of each class related to number of body segments, number of legs, and number of antennae.

·        Be familiar with the use of the Kwik-Key to Soil-Dwelling Invertebrates http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent525/soil/ident.html [1]

 Scientific classification of life – taxonomy

·        Know the classical 7 hierarchical taxonomic units used to categories life on earth. Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

·        Have an understanding at what level of taxonomic specificity we have detailed knowledge of trees, vertebrate animals, and soil-dwelling arthropods

·        Regarding the diversity of life on earth and our progress to scientifically describe and name species, contrast the relative diversity and likely ratio of named to non-named species worldwide of vertebrate animals (phylum Chordata) compared to the phylum Arthropoda.