Laboratory assignments may be done during the two scheduled lab days or on your own.

Lab Days

• I strongly recommend attending Lab Day 1, when the more complicated labs will be completed. On Lab Day 2 we conduct the labs that help with the identification tests (consider doing the plant identification lab before taking the plant identification test).
• Bring printed lab materials, pencil, water, lunch, and proper clothing (e.g. walking shoes, hat, etc.) -- we will be outside most of both days.
• Transportation will consist of carpooling.

Doing Labs on Your Own

• First, it is crucial that you understand and follow lab directions very carefully. Second, do the labs early and request feedback before final submission (if more than 1 week before deadline).
• Some equipment (in bold and green below) may be checked out for one week. Please check out the equipment from West Campus, Science Building, room K-132.
• Although the labs are listed in the recommended order below, the labs may be done in any order (although it makes sense to do the identification labs before the labs and tests requiring your identification skills).
• You should do the labs and turn in the required paperwork as early as possible. The forms are in html (web), pdf, and Microsoft Word format. I've included the Word format so that you can fill out the form in Word and then attach the Word document in an email to me. Otherwise you have to print out the web page, fill out the form with pencil or pen, and then send the form to me by post office, hand delivery, or scanned images.
• Turn in labs to me by email (bfiero@pima.edu), by mail ( 2202 W. Anklam Rd., Tucson, AZ 85709-0270), or in person to the Division Office at West Campus, Tortolita Building (E), room 255.
• Word of warning: you may be tempted to fake the data. First, you are missing a fun learning activity. Second, this could result in an F in the class (falsifying data is taken very seriously in science and academia).

• Plant Identification (10 pts)
• Goal: to learn how to identify the plants on your species list in real life (vs pictures).
• Preparation: practice identifying the plants on your list using the website.
• Time Necessary: as much time as it takes (minimum 2 hours).
• Equipment: field guide and/or a print out of the plant thumbnails from the website.
• Sample Locations: Saguaro National Park West Visitor Center area; Tucson Botanical Gardens.
• Turn in: an Email message stating that you have spent at least 2 hours outside identifying real plants off the species list.
• Plant Community Study (30 pts)
  • Goal: to determine the diversity and abundance of plants in an area.
  • Preparation: know how to identify the plants on our plant list.
  • Time Necessary: about 2-3 hours.
  • Equipment: 50 meter tape, 2 meter sticks, data sheet (see links below), paper, pencil.
  • Turn In: the Summary Plant Community Data Sheet (Microsoft Word , html, or pdf)
• Wildflower/Pollinator Lab (25 pts)
  • Goal: to identify wildflower species, predict their pollination system, and identify pollen vectors.
  • Preparation: know where at least five wildflower species occur.
  • Time Necessary: about 2 hours
  • Equipment: wildflower identification book, polyclave key to pollination systems (pdf), data sheet, pencil.
  • Turn in: the Pollination System Data Sheet (Microsoft Word, html, or pdf)
• Bird Identification (10 pts)
  • Goal: to learn how to identify the birds on your species list in in real life (vs pictures).
  • Preparation: practice identifying the birds on your list using the website.
  • Time Necessary: as much time as it takes (minimum 2 hours).
  • Equipment: field guide and/or a print out of the bird thumbnails from the website.
  • Suggested Location: the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a good place to see many of the birds.
  • Turn in: an Email message stating that you have spent at least 2 hours outside identifying real birds off the species list.
• Bird Census (30 pts)
  • Goal: to determine the diversity and abundance of birds in an area.
  • Preparation: know how to identify the birds on our bird list.
  • Time Necessary: Spend 90 minutes conducting the bird census.
  • Equipment: map, binoculars, bird field guide book, data sheet, pencil.
  • Turn in: a Bird Census Data Sheet (Microsoft Word, html, or pdf)
• Arthropod, Fish, and Amphibian Identification (10 pts)
  • Goal: to learn how to identify the arthropods, fish, and amphibians on your species list in in real life (vs pictures).
  • Preparation: practice identifying the species on your list using the website.
  • Time Necessary: as much time as it takes (minimum 2 hours).
  • Equipment: field guide and/or a print out of the arthropod, fish/amphibian thumbnails from the website.
  • Suggested Location: the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is the best place to see many of the animals.
  • Turn in: an Email message stating that you have spent at least 2 hours outside identifying real arthropods, fish, and amphibians off the species list.
• Reptile and Mammal Identification (10 pts)
  • Goal: to learn how to identify the reptiles and mammals on your species list in in real life (vs pictures).
  • Preparation: practice identifying the species on your list using the website.
  • Time Necessary: as much time as it takes (minimum 2 hours).
  • Equipment: field guide and/or a print out of the reptile and mammal thumbnails from the website.
  • Suggested Location: the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is the best place to see many of the animals.
  • Turn in: an Email message stating that you have spent at least 2 hours outside identifying real reptiles and mamals off the species list.
  Owl Pellet Lab (25 pts)
  • Goal: to identify prey species within an owl pellet.
  • Preparation: understand how owl pellets are produced.
  • Time Necessary: about 2 hours
  • Equipment: owl pellet, tweezers, metric ruler, key to skulls found within owl pellets (pdf)
  • Turn in: the Owl Pellet Data Sheet and Questions (Microsoft Word, html, or pdf)