#490: How Zoologists organise things

Taxonomy will probably feature in the GCSE Natural History. Knowing how different species can be compared and differentiated and the structures that biologist, zoologists and ecologists use will be important.

#284: OVERT - the open vertebrate project

Developed by Florida Museum.

Five years after its start, the openVertebrate project has made thousands of 3D natural history specimens available for free online. https://t.co/88iy98Yj7W @NewsfromScience

— Science Magazine (@ScienceMagazine) April 6, 2024

#225: What's in a name?

Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist who we have mentioned elsewhere on the blog  The binomial (i.e. two-name) naming system that we use today, invented by a Swedish botanist called  in the 18th century, gets around this confusion by giving each plant its own unique name. 

Linnaeus' system means that anyone, wherever they are in the world, and whatever language they speak, is able to identify a plant, and communicate that information to someone else and they will understand which plant is being discussed. 

Students (and teachers) will need to know the basics of how this system works.

If you know a little Latin you can also work out what some of the elements of the names mean.

Colour
alba/albus - white
caerulea/caeruleus - blue
coccinea/coccineus - scarlet
argentea - silver

Habitat
alpina/alpinus - alpine
campestris - field
maritima - coastal
montana - mountain
pratensis - meadow
sylvatica - forest

Characteristics
angustifolia - narrow leaves
fragans/fragrantissima - scented
foetida/foetidus - smelly (unpleasant)
grandiflora - large-flowered
nana - small, compact
odorata - perfumed
officinalis - has herbal uses
tomentosum - hairy, downy

Habit
columnaris - columnar
dentata - toothed
fruticosa - bushy
gracilis - slender
reptans - creeping
scandens - climbing

Country or area of origin
chinensis - China
japonica - Japan
sibiricus - Siberia
occidentalis - America
orientalis - Asia

And here's his own name:

There will need to be a lesson sequence which introduces students to the system, and the way that it works and then tests their understanding of key words by giving them some sample names and they need to describe what the plant / animal is / likely to look like.

If anyone has some existing CC licensed resources to share on this that would be of interest.

#210: Mammal Society

The Mammal Society has a useful website for those exploring the UK's mammals and wanting to know more.

There are around 90 native UK mammal species and a list can be found on the website.

There are some useful technical terms here to become familiar with, linked to orders of species of mammals (remember the taxonomy that we mentioned in a previous blog post and which students will need to become familiar with).

Eulipotyphla (Insectivores)

Lagomorpha (Rabbits and hares)
Rodentia (Rodents)
Carnivora (Carnivores)

Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

Perrisodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)
Marsupial - can anyone guess the only marsupial on the list of UK mammals?
Chiroptera (Bats)
Pinnipedia (Seals)
Cetacea (Whales, dolphins and porpoises inc. vagrants)

there are a few words to learn here, and also the difference between even and odd-toed ungulates. The former being the deer family.

I picked up a recent story through their Instagram account on the importance of hibernation to mammal species in helping them to overcome changes to climate.

They have a 'Whose Poo?' page which helps you identify animals from their droppings / faeces / spraints etc.

They have a useful Mammals Hub, which includes details on all the UK's native mammals as well. Plenty of educational interest as well as a range of blogs.

Membership costs £60 for the year and comes with a range of benefits.

They also have an app which I shall blog about separately called 'Mammal Mapper'.

#69: Linnean Learning

Linnean Learning is a website and Twitter account which shares resources created by the Linnean Society.

Their three Linnaeus-inspired values are:

1. Going outside and exploring in nature makes us happy and healthy
2. Our understanding of the natural world requires recording and sharing
3. Learning about life on Earth is vital to sustaining its future

They have both Primary and Secondary sections.

There is a selection of animated videos which some will find helpful when putting together a library of YouTube clips, particularly useful for homework tasks, or prior viewing ahead of a lesson where a new idea is going to be introduced.

This resource is listed in a directory of resources which are being prepared as part of the suite of unofficial resources that I am currently working on in anticipation of the release of the specification at some point.

What other websites do you think might form part of such a resource?

#34: Linnean Society and Carl Linnaeus

There will be a list of people whose work students should be introduced to during their studies in Natural History. The specification will no doubt include a list of these prominent people and we will also suggest one here on the blog and in the resources that emerge for teachers using the new specification.

Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) is one of the people who will appear on the list.

He is the father of modern taxonomy: a system for classifying organisms.

This New Scientist profile is a useful summary of his life and work, and the importance of taxonomy for biologists.

The Systema Naturae is another name for this.

The Linnean Society is based at Burlington House - to the left as you head towards the Royal Academy through the arch off Picadilly.

I last visited in 2019, just ahead of the lockdowns.

The Linnean Society of London is the world’s oldest active society devoted to natural history. Founded in 1788 by Sir James Edward Smith (1759–1828), who was its first President, the Society takes its name from the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) whose botanical, zoological and library collections have been in their keeping since 1829. 

As the Society's website says:

These unique collections are of continuing fundamental importance as a primary reference for naming of plants and animals. They are enhanced by the Society's own rich library which provides key resources for scientific and cultural research.

Our vision is a world where nature is understood, valued and protected. To do this we aim to inform, involve and inspire people about nature and its significance through our collections, events and publications. Thanks to the wide ranging expertise of our Fellowship and our unique collections, we are a hub for science communication through interdisciplinary learning and engagement.

The Society encourages the debate and discussion of natural history including taxonomy, evolutionary biology and ecology. We strongly support all efforts to address some of the most urgent issues facing the natural world, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. We also support the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. We aspire to inspire by bringing together diverse communities and increasing engagement with scientists, historians, artists and all those interested in nature.

#10: The Special Species game

The Special Species game is on the Linnean Society website.

It is a fun introduction to the idea of taxonomy and the different elements of the latin names of species and what they mean. 

Mix up some elements of species' names to create your own strange new species of animal and then design what you think it might look like. A useful little activity to introduce the idea of taxonomy, and how plants and animals get their 'proper' names. Knowing these proper names for key species was part of the original idea behind the new specification, with a feeling that young people no longer had that knowledge, and its acquisition was missing from the curriculum.

Combine the various stems and segments of words to produce new animals which match that taxonomic description.

Taxonomy is the science of naming, describing and classifying organisms and includes all plants, animals and microorganisms of the world. Using morphological, behavioural, genetic and biochemical observations, taxonomists identify, describe and arrange species into classifications, including those that are new to science.

The "father of taxonomy" was Carl (Carolus) Linnaeus. His will be a name which will emerge at numerous times during the development of materials.