UNIT 4- FINAL LAB

FINAL LAB: Biodiversity

The purpose of this lab was to name 20 species that we come in contact with on a daily basis. At first I thought this is going to be hard, but, once I took my camera outside and started on a walk, species were everywhere! This was actually an interesting lab, now realizing that we come in contact with numerous species throughout the day, without even realizing it. Below I have 15 species pictures, scientific name, common name, the ecological relationship, and wether I feel it is a Domesticated species, and how humans have been co-evolving with it. Hopefully you will enjoy this lab presentation.

1. Scientific Name: Carabidae, Ground beetle, Mutualistic, No: These insects are not harmful to us, but they do somewhat benefit by eating other little insects.

2. Scientific Name: Equus caballus, Horse, Animalia, Mutualistic, Yes: Pets. As you can see in this picture, we have horses as pets and are used as pleasure activity. On Mackinac Island, MI- horses are used for transportation, automobiles are not used on the island. Therefore horses are a benefical to us for transportation and pets.

3. Scientific Name: Arctiidae, Tiger Moth Caterpillar, Mutalistic, No: Insect. I don't feel we benefit from this insect, other than it eats other insects.

4. Scientific Name: Cophosaurus teaxanus, Lizzard, Mutualistic, Yes: Pets. We can thank these speedy creatures for going after the little annoying insects before they come into our homes. Some individuals also benefit from lizzards as a pet.

5. Scientific Name: Ictalorus punctatus, Channel catfish, Commensal, No: Fish. I'm not sure if this is actually a catfish, but for the most part we benefit from fish since we eat them as food.

6. Scientific Name: Family Anatidae(Atix Sponasa), wood duck, Mutualistic/Commensal, Yes: Pet and Food. I would say both since we as humans may eat duck, and the ducks eat insects.

7. Scientific Name: Cupraea zebra, Cowrie Snail, Mutualistic/Commensal, No. I would again say both, since snails eat insects, and some individuals eat this species.

8. Scientific Name: Lepus califonicus, Jack Rabbit, Commensal, Yes, Pet. These little animals are speedy, but also can be annoying when they munch away on your flowers/fruit!

9. Scientific Name: Teleogryllus commodus, Field Cricket, Mutualistic, No: This insect tends not to harm us, but does help rid of other insects. Although, I love listening to crickets in the evening. When I lived in MI there was an abundance of them, although when they land on you they are hard to remove!!! IICCK.

10. Scientific Name: Aphonepelma chalcodes, Wasp, Mutualistic, No: Again, wasps eat other insects. In the same category, bees, supply us with delicious honey!

11. Scientific Name: Opodiphthera eucalypti, Moth, Mutualistic, No: I would have to continue to repeat myself and say that it eats other insects, and typically doesn't bother us.

12. Scientific Name: Anisoptera Carnivorous, Dragon fly, Mutualistic, No: These insects are actually speedy and again help rid of insects.

13. Scientific Name: Zenaida Macroura, Mourning Dove,Mutualistic, Yes: possible pet, and food. Since birds eat insects/worms for food, this is benefical to us.

14. Scientific Name: Chionactis Occipitalis Annulata, Shovel-Nosed Snake, Mutualistic/Predator, No: Reptile and its disgusting. I actually found this NASTY snake in our bedroom! Needless to say, through my freaking out, I grabbed my camera, and clicked pictures before we got rid of it!!!!!! Some snakes could be classified as preadators while other little snakes such as this feed on insects. This could be both.

15. Scientific Name: Chiroptera, Bat, Predator, No:Rodent. This is also a disgusting sight my husband and I came across on our steps!!! It was day light and the bat laid there, we actually though it was dead until we moved it around. (thats when I got my best pictures) The teeth of bats are absolutely disgusting!!!! This predator is actually beneficial in that it eats other rodents and insects, eventhough they are nasty creatures.

Other Species: Scientific Name, Comman Name, Ecological Relationship, and wether I think it is a domesticated species, and how we as humans are co-evolved with it.

16. Cimicidae, Bed Bug, Parasitic, No, This disgusting species feeds off of our bodies, there are numerous bed bugs on us, without us even knowing.

17. Coccinellidae, Lady bug, Mutualistic, No: The lady bug doesn't really benefit us, other than eating other insects, some can be annoying.

18. Culiciade, Mosquito, Parasitic, No:This species also feeds off of us, by biting and eating our blood! We definately do not benefit, but the mosquito does.

19. Danaus Plexippus, Monarch Butterfly, Symbiotic, No: This species minds its own business, although other speceies feed on it, while the butterfly feeds on things such as flowers, not harming anything.

20. Zea, Field corn, Commensal, no: Since corn on the cob is in season, I picked delicious corn. This species definately benefits us, while the corn in unharmed.

21. Lactoca Sativa, Garden Lettuce, commensal, no I would just repeat from above.

22. Prunus Persica, Peaches, Commensal:no again, we benefit from the peach trees, since they supply us with scrumptious peaches. While other species may nest and feed off of the tree too.

23. Bos Taurus, Beef, Commensal(since it comes from cows) Yes: cows supply us with beef and milk, therefore very benefical to us.

24. Myosotis Discolor, For-get-me-not flower, mutualistic, No: Insects feed off of the flower, unharming the flower: benefical to both.

25. Ferocactus wislizeni, Barrel cactus, not sure, cactus's are mainly a part of our enviornment, although some use as house plants.

26. Homo sapien, Human: It seems as though you could classify humans as symbiotic, since we have relationships between many different species. Although the majority of food we eat comes from a living species, do we classify us as commensal too?

27. Canis Familiaris, Dog, Mutualistic, Yes: Dogs are important and very benefical to many individuals. They are protectors and pets.

28. Carislatrans,Coyote, Predator, No: This species feeds on other organisms for prey, and basically have no benefit to us.

29. Bubo virginianus, Great horned owl, Predator, No: I think this is the same, although they do help rid of rodents/insects. We actually saw an owl the other night, but could not tell which kind it was. I'm not sure which is popular in this area, so I picked the great horned owl.

30. Family formicidae, Ants, Mutualistic, No: Have you every watched an army of ants?? They are amazing little insects- they constantly move in a line carrying pieces of food, bigger than itself, to its home. Ants are also benefical to plants.

In conclusion, I named 30 species, 15 have pictures, and also noted the scientific name, comman name, ecological relationship, wether I feel it is a domesticaed species, and how the species is benefical or not benefical in our eco system. Again, I found this lab to be interesting. While looking up the scientific name, I also breezed through the life of the species which was also interesting. Hopefully this lab was interesting and worth the time I spent clicking pictures of the many species we come in contact on a daily basis. Many of the species ended up being Mutualisitic and benefical to our eco system.