Entomology 1400-228ENTO
LECTURES
• Introduction
The state of knowledge on insects, their importance in the past and nowadays. History of entomology. Changes of classification systems and nomenclature.
• Insect evolution
Genesis of insects and data on fossil fauna. Factors affecting speciation and current diversity. Contemporary views on phylogenetic tree of the group.
• Overview of insect orders, divided into groups
Hexapoda vs. remaining Arthropoda, Entognatha and the rest of primary apterous forms,
Exopterygota - Palaeoptera, Polyneoptera, Paraneoptera
Endopterygota – Panorpida, Neuropterida, Coleoptera, Amphiesmenoptera, Hymenoptera
Diversity and biogeography of a group, its onthogenesis and morphological characteristics. Summary of data on the group in Poland.
• Role of insects in terrestrial
Factors limiting insect distribution; typical and extreme environments. Overview of trophic types with regard to trophic networks. Types of interspecific interactions. Onthogenesis vs. ecological niche of species.
Definition of "water insects". Role and importance of insects in aquatic food chains.
• Economic importance of insects, synanthropic fauna
Veterinary and medical entomology; insects as human food. Species of negative and positive role in economy and human life.
• Insects, nature and conservation and environmental protection
Criteria of species conservationa and threat categorization (IUCN). Characteristics and summary of insect conservation in Poland. Bioindication and indicator species.
CLASSES
• Methods of field collection and presevation of specimens, guidelines of entomological documentation
Overview of methods used in acquisition of entomological data, from field activities, through preparation techniques, to rules of sample description and databases for information management.i
• Organization of entomological collections and importance of specimen collections for science
Visit in Museum of Zoology PAS in Łomna near Warsaw - example of functioning of museal institutiond with regard to long-term program of preserving natural collections.
• Field methods in entomological research
Practial use of selected field techniques and qcquisition of supplementary material for classes.
• Critical review of literature helpful for insect identification – guidelines of use of keys, guides and atlases
• Insect identification – general level – distinguishing orders
First of series of classes focued on Polish fauna - methodology of identification and general classification.
• Insect identification – detailed level
Each of the classes relates to a different group of insects. Students learn to discern typical features of selected taxa at a family or lower level.
Apterygota
Exopterygota - Palaeoptera, Polyneoptera, Paraneoptera
Endopterygota – Panorpida, Neuropterida, Coleoptera, Amphiesmenoptera, Hymenoptera
• Searching and using Internet sources of information
Despite more and more easier accessibility of various kinds of information on species, finding reliiable sources and their reasonable interpretation often remain a problem for users. The goal of this part is to present resoruces and possiblities of using vaulable information sources in Internet.
Type of course
elective courses
elective monographs
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Bibliography
Suggested bibliography will be presented before the start of the course.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: