1. Using Dichotomous Keys

2. Keeping track of species Taxonomy: describing and naming an organism >1 million species named, up to 15 million more Taxonomy is not new; cultures have been naming plants and animals around them for 1000s of years It’s practical to have names

3. Binomial Nomenclature Standard system for naming things Linnaeus described and named > 6,000 animals and >4,000 plants using Latin Scientific name does not replace, but instead further defines common name

4. Early naming of species 1st word was a noun: Genus 2nd word was an adjective: Specific epithet Genus + specific epithet = scientific name of a species

5. Taxonomic goals Place organisms into logical categories system must be capable of being used for information retrieval, so anyone can properly identify any organism system must be capable of being used for information retrieval, so anyone can properly identify any organism Place organisms into categories that show ancestor-descendant relationships

6. Taxonomic hierarchy Kingdom(Animalia) Phylum(Chordata) Phylum(Chordata) Class(Mammalia) Class(Mammalia) Order(Rodentia) Order(Rodentia) Family(Sciuridae) Family(Sciuridae) Genus(Sciurus) Genus(Sciurus) Specific epithet (species) (carolinensis) Specific epithet (species) (carolinensis) Scientific name: Sciurus carolinensis

7. What is a dichotomous key? Key  tool for identification of biological specimens Key  tool for identification of biological specimens Dichotomous  pairs of mutually exclusive statements Dichotomous  pairs of mutually exclusive statements Couplet  each pair of statements Couplet  each pair of statements Decision tree Decision tree Important considerations Important considerations Geologic scope Geologic scope Taxonomic scope Taxonomic scope Terminology Terminology

8. Keying out individuals: hints Learn the terminology of the group Learn the terminology of the group Learn where to look for the descriptive characteristic Learn where to look for the descriptive characteristic generic labeled pictures help! generic labeled pictures help! Know WHERE the samples were collected Know WHERE the samples were collected

9. Keying out individuals: hints Know the habitat type Know the habitat type Have measuring instruments in hand Have measuring instruments in hand Once you can identify key features of groups, you can skip over the early parts of the key, and jump straight to Family, for instance Once you can identify key features of groups, you can skip over the early parts of the key, and jump straight to Family, for instance

10. Plant Anatomy

11. Leaf Anatomy

12. Types of Leaves

13. Leaf Arrangement

14. Shape of Leaf Blade

15. Leaf Venation

16. Shape of Leaf Margin

17. Shape of Leaf Apex

18. Shape of Leaf Base

19. Example Leaves compound or simple? Leaves compound or simple? Leaves needle-shaped or broad and flat? Leaves needle-shaped or broad and flat? Leaves opposite or alternate? Leaves opposite or alternate? Shape of the leaf and veins? Shape of the leaf and veins? ACER

20. Dichotomous Key Assignment

21. Unknown 3 Use key to insect orders to identify this specimen to order.

22. Hint: This insect has external lateral gills on its abdomen.

23. Use key to insect orders to identify this specimen to order.

24. Unknown 4: Aquatic larva Use key to insect orders to identify this specimen to order. Hint: This insect has normal biting jaws.

25. Unknown 5 Use key to insect orders to identify this specimen to order.

26. Woodpeckers Make a key to differentiate these woodpeckers (also see next slide).