Module 26

McMaster University
Ontario Universities Program in Field Biology

Course Title : Insect Taxonomy/Ecology
Instructor(s) :

Marvin W. Gunderman                          

Department of Biology                             Phone:  905-525‑9140 Ext.23556
McMaster University                                Fax: 905-522-6066
Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1

Contact:  Kathy McIntosh (mcintos@mcmaster.ca)
Date(s) : August 15-21, 2010 (1 week)
Location :

Queen's University Biological Station (QUBS)
(on Lake Opinicon, near Chaffey's Locks, 50 km north of Kingston)
Cost :

$525.00 (includes room and board at QUBS and supplies)

Cost Breakdown:
$250.00 deposit paid to student’s home University;
$275.00 certified cheque payable to “McMaster University” by
June 4, 2010 sent to Kathy McIntosh, Biology, McMaster University,
1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, L8S 4K1

In addition to the course fee shown, the student is responsible for tuition at the home university, and for travel between home city and the QUBS.

Prerequisites :

A university course in biology, ecology or zoology.
Description :

Students will learn how to collect, mount, preserve and identify insects found around the QUBS.  Daily collecting trips will be followed by short lectures. The characteristics and ecological importance of various insect orders will be discussed.  Each student is expected to compile a synoptic insect collection and /or a digital image collection (bring your cameras!). Also, each student will carry out a field experiment on an insect-related phenomenon and then write a research paper on that experiment or observation.
Enrollment : Limited to 8 students (2 reserved for McMaster students)
Evaluation : Participation:   10%, Seminar:  15%, Research Paper & Notebook:  25%, Insect/Image Collection:  50%
Assignment(s) : 1) 20 min. seminar (prepared in advance) and subsequent discussion.
2)  Field experiment notebook & research paper due one month after end of course.
3)  An insect collection (min. 150 specimens representing at least 12 different orders) due at the end of the course.
Additional Information: Textbook: There is no required text for this course but I highly recommend: Borror and DeLong’s An Introduction to the Study of Insects. (7th ed.: ISBN 0‑03‑0968356 and Steve Marshall’s Insects: Their Natural History & Diversity. (ISBN 1552979008).