KABT folks
We had a great time at the KABT Fall meeting at Cowley County College.
Thanks to Michelle, the presenters and others. During the field trip out at Chaplin Nature center a group of us came across large numbers of caterpillars defoliating catalpa saplings. The trees themselves were difficult to identify (since they were defoliated and small saplings) and we weren't sure about the caterpillars. I guessed that they were some sort of horn worm---well guesses sometimes workout. We apparently had found the dark form of the Catalpa sphinx (hormworms). Here's a link that includes images.
http://www.ag.auburn.edu/enpl/bulletins/catalpasphinx/catalpasphinx.htm
or
http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg305.html
or
http://entomology.unl.edu/ornamentals/pestprofiles/catsphinx.htm
Ours matches the dark form in the bottom of this image:
http://www.ag.auburn.edu/enpl/bulletins/catalpasphinx/photo6.htm
or in this image:
http://www.ag.auburn.edu/enpl/bulletins/catalpasphinx/photo2.htm
BW
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Saturday, April 01, 2006
What we do is very important
The public television station in Oklahoma recently carried part of the floor debate for HB 2107, the Academic Freedom bill in the Oklahoma Legislature. A thinly disguised intelligent design bill, the floor debate was repleat with Wedge spin and some really horrible definitions of scientific theory and evolution. One legislator claimed that evolution theory stated that a giraffe's neck would stretch to allow it to reach the ceiling fan if it continued reaching for a ceiling fan in the legislative chamber over a period of 50,000 years. Biology teaching at all levels is incredibly important and must be done well, focusing on those "essential questions" that are relevant.
OETA link: http://www.oeta.onenet.net/news/
OETA link: http://www.oeta.onenet.net/news/
Monday, March 20, 2006
BioBlitz Planning
I am very encouraged by the comments and postings on Teaching Biology blog. So much so that I am proposing that the organization for the KABT fieldtrip be conducted on this site. If commitments are made in fullview of fellow teachers and supporters the chances of success will be increased greatly. I would like to thank Sandy and Brad for their postings and direct others to the great comments made by Eric.
Eric (see comments under Brads posting) has suggested that the KABT could benefit this first year of BioBlitzing by joining an existing BioBlitz in the Kansas City area. I would like comments to follow Brads posting rather than here to keep the conversation centered on one thread. I am new to this blogging so if there is a better way let me know.
I am hoping to get some feed back by Saturday .
Eric (see comments under Brads posting) has suggested that the KABT could benefit this first year of BioBlitzing by joining an existing BioBlitz in the Kansas City area. I would like comments to follow Brads posting rather than here to keep the conversation centered on one thread. I am new to this blogging so if there is a better way let me know.
I am hoping to get some feed back by Saturday .
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Baby BioBlitz
I decided to create an additional post rather than just reply to Randy's original--comments can sometimes get a bit hidden.
The BioBlitz has a lot of potential for KABT members as a field trip theme--it's a chance to learn about KS biodiversity, become familiar with KS natural history, see neat places, meet great people, provide an important service for the state, have a lot of fun, and do a little science along the way. If successful we could make it a tradition--moving it around the state to specific habitats. Do a google search on Bioblitz to see what other projects have accomplished. We can too.
The board has suggested that our first BioBlitz take place at Kanopolis Lake in early June. The area around Kanopolis is a rich mid-grass prairie habitat dissected by canyons and ravines carved from the Dakota sandstone bedrock. These canyons and the springs create unique microhabitats--a blend of bur oak timber, mid-grass prairie and spring-fed pasture streams. Located in the center of the state, the area is an area of overlap for eastern vs. western species.
The idea of the bioblitz is that we (KABT members) would work hard for the weekend to collect, sample and catalog as many different kinds of organisms in each of these groups at Kanopolis. We'll need microscopes, permits, collecting equipment, binocular, cameras, etc. You'll need to bring camping equipment and food for yourself. We plan on camping at the lake and probably headquarter at one of the shelter houses (or perhaps my father's cabin.)
The planning and preparation is just beginning but time is short. Hopefully, we'll get going over the next couple of weeks otherwise we might want to think about waiting until next year to try out the bioblitz concept....
Here's a bit of a start: Here are the groups that Randy D. has proposed we sample during the bioblitz.
BW
The BioBlitz has a lot of potential for KABT members as a field trip theme--it's a chance to learn about KS biodiversity, become familiar with KS natural history, see neat places, meet great people, provide an important service for the state, have a lot of fun, and do a little science along the way. If successful we could make it a tradition--moving it around the state to specific habitats. Do a google search on Bioblitz to see what other projects have accomplished. We can too.
The board has suggested that our first BioBlitz take place at Kanopolis Lake in early June. The area around Kanopolis is a rich mid-grass prairie habitat dissected by canyons and ravines carved from the Dakota sandstone bedrock. These canyons and the springs create unique microhabitats--a blend of bur oak timber, mid-grass prairie and spring-fed pasture streams. Located in the center of the state, the area is an area of overlap for eastern vs. western species.
The idea of the bioblitz is that we (KABT members) would work hard for the weekend to collect, sample and catalog as many different kinds of organisms in each of these groups at Kanopolis. We'll need microscopes, permits, collecting equipment, binocular, cameras, etc. You'll need to bring camping equipment and food for yourself. We plan on camping at the lake and probably headquarter at one of the shelter houses (or perhaps my father's cabin.)
The planning and preparation is just beginning but time is short. Hopefully, we'll get going over the next couple of weeks otherwise we might want to think about waiting until next year to try out the bioblitz concept....
Here's a bit of a start: Here are the groups that Randy D. has proposed we sample during the bioblitz.
o Aquatic invertebrates
o Soil macroinvertebrates
o Birds---
o Mammals---
o Reptiles/Amphibians--
o Insects-
o Mosses, liverworts and ferns
o Flowering Plants--
o Fish--
We need feedback and volunteers to work in the various groups. Respond in the comments if you think you might be interested in any of these groups. Do we have too many? Is something missing? What should we do with the data? How can this help KS bio teachers? All kinds of things come to mind. Give us your feedback.BW
Friday, March 03, 2006
Watching Cancer Cells Die
Nanotechnology is a vibriant research area and biological applications are surfacing regularly. A nano sensor has been developed that can detect individual cells in apoptosis. The sensor has been tested in the laboratory on leukemia cells. Further testing will include sensors that contain an iron-oxide particle that is easily detected by an MRI allowing doctors to monitor the impact of the chemo on cancer cells within days instead of weeks or months. Looking for a new and exciting application to highlight during your class discussions about cell surface molecules and cell signaling? This is it!
http://www.technologyreview.com/NanoTech/wtr_16467,319,p1.html
http://www.technologyreview.com/NanoTech/wtr_16467,319,p1.html
Friday, February 10, 2006
KABT and a Baby BioBlitz
As a KABT board member, I am pleased to accept Brads invitation to join the blog. I have no experience with this blogging process and hope to not make any major mistakes in this posting. To that end, I will keep it short and sweet and to the point.
The spring fieldtrip for Kansas biology teachers is baby bioblitz of Kanapolis lake area. We are wanting to survey the biodiversity of VENANGO PARK area on June 3rd. We are not prepared to go full scale but would like to have experts to lead the teams as they collect/ identify various taxa. I am trying to get help on maps and recording technology for this field trip from Olathe North H.S. GIS experts. Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I have located an example of a bioblitz that seems to be first rate. http://www.fieldmuseum.org/bioblitz/index.html
Other board members, KABT members, or biologists are invited to respond.
The spring fieldtrip for Kansas biology teachers is baby bioblitz of Kanapolis lake area. We are wanting to survey the biodiversity of VENANGO PARK area on June 3rd. We are not prepared to go full scale but would like to have experts to lead the teams as they collect/ identify various taxa. I am trying to get help on maps and recording technology for this field trip from Olathe North H.S. GIS experts. Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I have located an example of a bioblitz that seems to be first rate. http://www.fieldmuseum.org/bioblitz/index.html
Other board members, KABT members, or biologists are invited to respond.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Blog Revitalization
I apologize to anyone checking on this blog....the posts have been few and far between. In an attempt to revitalized this blog for the biology teaching community, I'm going to expand the official posters--much like Panda's Thumb. To this end I've invited the board members of the Kansas Association of Biology Teachers to become bloggers here at Teaching Biology. Hopefully, they will add more postings, create diversity and develop a resource for biology teachers.
To insure a wider geographical diversity if there are other affiliate biology organizations that would like to participate in this blog in some manner just let me know and we'll see what we can work out.
BW
To insure a wider geographical diversity if there are other affiliate biology organizations that would like to participate in this blog in some manner just let me know and we'll see what we can work out.
BW
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