Course Introduction and General Lab Notes
Course Description
This course introduces the ecology and taxonomy of aquatic insects. An intensive course designed to provide a thorough taxonomic knowledge, and basic understanding of the biology and ecology of the aquatic insects for students in ecology, fisheries and entomology. Lectures focus on ecology; labs on taxonomy. A student collection will be required. Final course grade will be based
- 50% on lecture material (mid-term and final exam)
- 20% on lab taxonomic ID exams, and
- 30% on a required student collection.
About this Web Site
Use the global navigation bar above to locate course information and requirements, class and field trip announcements, and updates regarding readings, lecture and lab topics, and other organizational material.
Use the topic navigation field to the left to access course material topics and useful information and web links. The insect groups are organized taxonomically in the sequence (more or less) that we will cover in class. Additional information and other links may be added as the course progresses. If you have suggestions of sites for inclusion, please email the lab instructor with the URL.
Readings and Texts
There are two required texts:
- Merritt RW and Cummins KW. 1996. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America, 3rd Edition. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company: Dubuque, Iowa, USA. 862 p.
- Hilsenhoff WL. 1995. Aquatic Insects of Wisconsin. Keys to Wisconsin Genera and Notes on Biology, Habitat, Distribution, and Species. University of Wisconsin Natural History Museums Council Pub. Coop. Ext. Publications #G3648. 52 p.
Other required reading will be announced in the various links to the aquatic orders (use the topic navigation bar (left) to access this information).
Below is a list of recommended and useful texts on entomology and aquatic insects. These books will be reserved - contact your lab instructor to access these.
Recommended aquatic insects texts:
- Peckarsky BL, Fraissinet PR, Penton MA, and Conklin, DJ, Jr. 1990. Freshwater macroinvertebrates of northeastern North America. Cornell University Press: Ithaca, NY.
- Resh VH, Rosenberg DM. 1984. The ecology of aquatic insects. Praeger, New York.
- Usinger RL (ed.). 1956. Aquatic insects of California, with keys to North American genera and California species. University of California Press: Berkeley, California.
- Ward JV. 1992. Aquatic insect ecology; biology and habitat. John Wiley & Sons: New York, NY.
- Williams DD, Feltmate BW. 1992. Aquatic Insects. CAB International.
Recommended general entomology texts:
- Borror DJ, Triplehorn CA, Johnson NF. 1989. An introduction to the study of insects. 6th ed., Saunders College Pubishing: Forth Worth, Texas.
- Chapman RF. 1998. The insects: structure and function. Fourth edition. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.
- Daly HV, Doyen JT, Purcell AH. 1998. Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK.
- Gullan PJ, Cranston PS. 2000. The insects: an outline of entomology. Second Edition. Blackwell Science: Oxford, UK.
Page created: January 16, 2001
Page last edited: January 25, 2005 (EB)
