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Education Home | Education News | Workshops | Institute of Desert Ecology | Teacher Resources |
Tucson Audubon Society
Institute of Desert Ecology Instructors
Carl Olson - Entomology
Even though insects are overwhelmingly the largest group of animals in the world, they are not well-understood. I begin my lectures with an introduction to their morphological look, including an examination of their exoskeleton and why it is so important to their survival. I use insects as a springboard to extend this discussion to the rest of the arthropod world. By examining this one impressive organ, my class will come to an understanding of adaptation, variation and success of the arthropods and how they can so readily adapt to any ecosystem. In keeping with the theme of the Institute of Desert Ecology, the discussion will focus on desert adaptation.
I will then take my class through metamorphosis and show how the various types of this process help insects adapt and engage the seasons – not just to survive but to excel within their dramatic climatic confines. In the two hour segment, I take the groups on short walks and engage them with a new perspective of Nature, observing the wee critters and then discussing how these various species have succeeded in living here. This then allows us to compare insects the participants may know from other ecosystems, and understand the success and the real importance of the arthropods in any ecosystem. The goal is to remove the prejudice and misunderstanding that is rampant in our world concerning these small animals.
Cecil Schwalbe - Herpetology overview
I begin by discussing the diversity of amphibians and reptiles compared to the other vertebrate groups, at global, national, and regional scales. I cover the evolution of the amphibians from the lobe-finned fishes and reptiles from the amphibians, pointing out specific adaptations or pre-adaptations that each of these two emerging groups have evolved. I compare the advantages and disadvantages of ectothermy and endothermy, using examples from the Sonoran Desert region to show that some of those “cold-blooded” animals are not cold at all. My two-hour session addresses how particular groups or species of amphibians and reptiles make a living in the desert Southwest, with frequent referrals to interactions with other groups of animals and plants. We cover such things as foraging strategies, defensive adaptations, life histories, with occasional diversions to other topics triggered by questions from participants. I end with a discussion and demonstration of venomous animals. Much of the session is hands-on, so participants can see, feel, and even hear a variety of desert reptiles.
Ronnie Sidner - Your mammal guide
With the concept of mammals as part of the IDE's multi-disciplinary experience, we begin with a quick overview/review of the current seven groups of mammals native to AZ, then look more specifically at the diversity of the Sonoran Desert region and particularly of Catalina State Park . I earnestly add the caveat that the diversity of mammal watching is really low compared to that of bird watching: remember that birds as a group are almost all diurnal and conspicuous while mammals are nocturnal, secretive, and purposely inconspicuous. Add to these characteristics the presence of 90 Audubonistas, and live mammal viewing becomes nearly impossible. So, we must instead accept signs of mammal presence: burrow openings, tracks, droppings, sounds, and bones. Alert participants will see the few diurnal mammal species in the park and hear some of the nocturnal ones. (Bring a red headlamp.) Then we'll concentrate on the two most diverse mammal groups. I will live trap (for later release) a couple native rodent species and use them to illustrate anatomical/physiological adaptations these mammals evolved that permit them to survive and reproduce in the constraints of the desert. And we'll discuss the importance and problems of bats and their special roles in the Sonoran Desert . During IDE night classes we'll hope to observe real predator/prey activity when we view/hear bats flying above the UV lights that entomologist Carl Olson sets out for insects. A little food for thought: why did wolves go extinct in Arizona while coyotes thrive?
Linwood Smith - Desert adaptations
My focus at the IDE is on adaptations, or, more correctly, pre-adaptations in birds and plants that allow them to survive in a hot, dry climate. I also talk about evolution of the Sonoran Desert using the story of woodrat middens to illustrate how new the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona really is. I talk about nesting strategies in birds and how they are adaptive (or not) to desert conditions. I talk about life cycle strategies in plants - for example, winter-spring annual plants are NOT desert plants even though they grow in the Sonoran Desert - they completely avoid the desert issues (hot and dry) by going through their life cycles between November and April when it is cool and moist. I illustrate other avoidance tactics by vertebrates and invertebrates that similarly beg the question-are they really desert animals? Even our most cherished desert creatures avoid the issue - kangaroo rats and pocket mice, the epitome of desert adaptations are totally nocturnal and even cease doing that when the evenings do not cool off that much in late summer. I always strive to include the other instructors creatures and things in my talks, even Bob's rocks!
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This page was updated on 6/18/07