Life in the Natural World: Investigating Life's Diversity
Edition: 4
Copyright: 2016
Pages: 190
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In this collection of laboratory investigations we have chosen to follow Darwin’s lead by highlighting some of the many forms of life’s biological diversity and complexity – and there are many! Biological evolution, after all, is an extremely creative process. You’ll be examining diversity and complexity from the level of DNA, to that of species, and finally to how species are assembled into communities and how these communities are studied. You’ll also be looking at some of the important mechanisms and natural systems that underlie, maintain, and change biological diversity. It is not much of an exaggeration to say that life as we know it, in all its myriad and beautiful forms, is about variation and interaction.
These labs are designed to be stand-alone activities that are primarily self-directed. You will find that your instructor will “teach” much less than you may be used to. Think of your instructor as a facilitator or as a resource for learning – the real learning is up to you. Said differently, the degree of learning you accomplish while conducting these investigations is almost entirely dependent on the effort you put into them, inside and outside the laboratory.
Preface
Getting the Most Out of Class and This Manual
Lab 1: Your Body ~ A Habitat
Getting to Know Your Microscope
Prepare a Wet Mount of Cheek Cells
Observe Cheek Cells Using the Light Microscope
We’re Outnumbered!! – Bacteria in Your Body
Life on Your Face!
Lab 2: Water: Osmosis, Tonicity, and Transpiration
Osmosis in Potato Cores
Tonicity of Elodea Cells
Transpiration From Plants
Lab 3: Life: Atmosphere and Energy.
Photosynthesis & Respiration
Products of Photosynthesis
The Color of Plants
Measuring Dissolved Gasses
Lab 4: Estimating Biodiversity ~ The Species-Area Relationship
Lab 5: DNA Diversity and Its Measurement (two lab periods)
Lab 1
DNA Isolation from Cheek Cells
PCR Amplification of the D1S80 VNTR Locus
Lab 2
Gel Electrophoresis
So How Rare Is My Genotype?
Lab 6: Reproducer ~ The Processes of Natural and Sexual Selection
Modeling Selection
Changes in Genotypes and Allele Frequencies
Lab 7: Plant Reproduction ~ Getting Into the Future
Flower Morphology
Flower Power – Attracting Pollinators
Fruit and Seed Examination
Lab 8: Plant Nutrition and Symbiosis
Tomato Seedlings & Nutrients
Mycorrhizal Fungi
Effects of Nitrogen Sources on Clover Plants
Examination of Root Nodules
Lab 9: Soil ~ The World Beneath Your Feet (two lab periods)
Part I: Physical Properties of Soil
Texture
Field Capacity
Wilting Point
Available Water
Other Physical Properties of Soil
Part II: Biological Properties – The Living Soil
Microbe Diversity
Estimating Microbial Population Numbers
Part III: Soil Animals
Soil Invertebrates
Baermann Funnels
Direct Observations
Group Comparisons
Illustrated Guide to Common Soil Animals
Lab 10: Aquatic Toxicology
Observations of Daphnia
The LD50 Test
Lab 11: Saving Biodiversity ~ An Example Using Threatened Communities
Lab 12: Puzzling the Past