Please make sure you read the project description and instructions thoroughly and completely before you start on your project. Also review the rubric so you are fully aware of the steps you need to take to earn full points.
For this project, you will be researching 10 organisms to create a photo atlas. Pay careful attention to the directions under each group of organisms. Scroll all the way down to view the detailed rubric.
Separate your post into 5 sections:
Plants
Insects
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals
Plants
Identify three plants that can attract pollinators (e.g., bees, birds, bats, butterflies, etc.)
For each plant, you need to include the following:
- Photo embedded in the submission
- Common name of the plant
- Genus name of the plant (Genus names are always italicized)
- What type of pollinators the plant attracts
- Whether the plant is native to Florida (follow the chart below to complete this point)
Good resources to identify plants are:
Florida Wildflower Foundation: https://flawildflowers.org/ (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)
iNaturalist app: https://www.inaturalist.org/ (Links to an external site.)
Southeastern Flora ID: http://www.southeasternflora.com/SearchForm.php (Links to an external site.)
Florida Native Plant Society: https://www.fnps.org/plants (Links to an external site.)
And a good resource to identify whether your plant is native to Florida or considered to be invasive:
USF Plant Atlas: http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/flip/ (Links to an external site.)
University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/ (Links to an external site.)
For Example,
Dune daisy
Genus Helianthus
Dune daisies are native to Florida and attract bees, birds, and butterflies.
Insects
Identify two insects. Make sure you understand the difference between an insect and an arachnid!
For each insect, you need to include the following:
- Photo embedded in the submission
- Common name of the insect
- Genus name of the insect (Genus names are always italicized)
- Whether the insect is native to Florida (This is just yes or no – in a complete sentence)
Reptiles
Identify two reptiles.
For each reptile, you need to include the following:
- Photo embedded in the submission
- Common name of the reptile
- Genus name of the reptile (Genus names are always italicized)
- Whether the reptile is native to Florida (This is just yes or no – in a complete sentence)
Birds
Identify two birds.
For each bird, you need to include the following:
- Photo embedded in the submission
- Common name of the bird
- Genus name of the bird (Genus names are always italicized)
- Whether the bird is native to Florida (This is just yes or no – in a complete sentence)
Mammals
Identify one mammal (NOT a domesticated species or caged animal).
For each mammal, you need to include the following:
- Photo embedded in the submission
- Common name of the mammal
- Genus name of the mammal (Genus names are always italicized)
- Whether the mammal is native to Florida (This is just yes or no – in a complete sentence)
A good resource for correctly identifying animals is:
https://www.inaturalist.org (Links to an external site.)
A good resource for identifying whether a species is native to Florida is:
http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/ (Links to an external site.)
You are strongly encouraged to make your observations in a local park or nature preserve as this is the easiest way to complete the bulk of your project in one go. Below is a list of several parks located in and around the Tampa Bay Area :
- Lettuce Lake Park (2 mi from campus)
- Violet Cury Preserve (2.5 mi from campus)
- Flatwoods Park (8 mi from campus)
- Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve (12 mi from campus)
- Upper Tampa Bay Park (18 mi from campus)
- Hillsborough River State Park (20 mi from campus)
- Brooker Creek Preserve (21 mi from campus)
Given the current situation, understand that while some parks remain open, that many have reduced hours of operation. This project is also designed so that you could potentially go outside of your place of residence and collect all of the photos you need. I strongly encourage you to take original photos of animals you encounter outside. However, due to the extenuating circumstances I will also accept photos from the internet as long as you cite your sources.
You will submit this project either through a text box in Canvas, as a .pdf, or as a .doc or .docx. To submit via the Canvas text box, you will need to upload your photos to Canvas prior to embedding them using the “embed media” button. Please consider turning the project in early in case of any unanticipated technical issues. Emailed submissions will not be accepted nor graded. All submissions must be typed. No hand-written assignments will be accepted.
Some important things to note:
- You MUST use a different species for each post. If you are unsure whether it is a different species, err on the side of caution and use a different plant or animal.
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Photos are encouraged to be original. A walk in a local park or nature preserve should get you most, if not all, of the species you need for this project. You may use domesticated species. This includes pets (cats, dogs, ferrets, etc.), livestock (horses, cows, chickens, etc.), and exotic animals kept as pets (parrots, snakes, geckos, etc.). You may NOT go to a pet store, zoo, or plant nursery/garden center to make your observations.
- Please make sure the organism you have identified is CLEARLY VISIBLE in your picture. An indiscernible speck that you call an insect or a faraway photo of a bird with no characteristics visible to confirm an identification will result in lost points.
- You are being graded on accuracy and completeness. Be sure to review the rubric below.
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Academic dishonesty: All projects in this class need to adhere to the USF Instructional Guidelines regarding Academic Dishonesty. You can check out the document (the issue is addressed beginning on page 5), but here is the gist:
- Plagiarism is considered “academically dishonest”, whether or not it was done with intent.
- Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s work as your own. This could mean that you forgot quotation marks, or that you didn’t paraphrase properly (like if you only change a word or two in a sentence), or that you failed to cite work that is not your own. Plagiarism is also using photos that you didn’t take.
- Other forms of dishonesty (resubmitting the same work for two courses, cheating, allowing others to cheat… etc.) exist and they can get you in trouble in your courses and with the University.
- The policy also explains the “sanctions” or disciplinary action that can be taken if you choose to be dishonest.
- Plagiarism is considered “academically dishonest”, whether or not it was done with intent.
If you need help embedding images into your submission, please follow these links:
How do I submit a text entry assignment? (Links to an external site.)
Embedding images from Canvas using the Rich Content Editor (Links to an external site.)
There are excellent instructions in both of these links.
Rubric
– Biodiversity Atlas
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePlants– Identify three plants that can attract pollinators For each plant, you need to include the following: – Original photo embedded in the submission – Common name of the plant – Genus name of the plant – What type of pollinators the plant attracts – Whether the plant is native to Florida |
|
20.0 pts |
|||||
|
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeInsects– Identify two insects. For each insect, you need to include the following: – Original photo embedded in the submission – Common name of the insect – Genus name of the insect – Whether the insect is native to Florida |
|
20.0 pts |
|||||
|
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReptiles– Identify two reptiles. For each reptile, you need to include the following: – Original photo embedded in the submission – Common name of the reptile – Genus name of the reptile – Whether the reptile is native to Florida |
|
20.0 pts |
|||||
|
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeBirds– Identify two birds. For each bird, you need to include the following: -Original photo embedded in the submission – Common name of the bird – Genus name of the bird – Whether the bird is native to Florida |
|
20.0 pts |
|||||
|
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMammals– Identify one mammal (NOT a domestic cat or dog). For each mammal, you need to include the following: – Original photo embedded in the submission – Common name of the mammal – Genus name of the mammal – Whether the mammal is native to Florida |
|
10.0 pts |
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|
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSpelling/Grammar/PunctuationCorrect spelling, grammar, punctuation, and complete sentences were used throughout the project. Genus capitalized, and in italics. |
|
10.0 pts |
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Total Points: 100.0 |
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