Monday, August 27, 2007
Technology and entomolgy
Ever wonder about the benefits of grasshoppers? Me too. Hopefully, via this forum we can find an answer to this query. To start: they function as a food source for birds and they break down plant material allowing for a more efficient reintroduction of nutrients into the environment.
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11 comments:
how about striking fear into the fearless? i'm sure a hearty locust plague could be beneficial now and then....
check out this ugly locust monster:
http://www.blackraiser.com/mib/scorpion.gif
(Matthias Gerung, 1547)
i'd be fearful if i saw that thing... or at least puzzled.
And people find it hard to believe insects and humans are related. The likeness is so obvious.
Nothing is scarier than giant insects. I think Mystery Science Theater once spoofed THE DEADLY MANTIS(http://www.feoamante.com/Movies/DEF/deadly_mantis.html).
Ok, back to serious. Here is a quote from the abstract of a paper in Insect Science (DOI and citation to follow): "Moreover, we inferred that the change in the level of component richness at each type of grasshopper biodiversity can make an impact on grassland ecosystems, and therefore, there is likely to be a threshold to grasshopper biodiversity for the stability and the sustainability of those ecosystems."
ZHONG-WEI GUO, HONG-CHANG LI, YA-LING GAN (2006)
Grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) biodiversity and grassland ecosystems
Insect Science 13 (3), 221–227.
doi:10.1111/j.1744-7917.2006.00086.x
SO yeah, grasshoppers are good!
When I was six a grasshopper flew into my mouth and soured me towards insects for many, many a year. While I have come to love most insects, I still glance sideways in suspicion towards most Orthoptera. However, I'm learning to set aside my own prejudices and recognize the important roles they play in many arenas.
...and crunchy too!!!
Thanks for the quote and the citation. I am still looking for thesis ideas and any paper helps.
When I went to science camp as a kid, we did "mental survival exercises," comprising topics like "how long can you survive in the desert on grasshoppers?" (Apparently one should cook them first because of parasites.)
-Mel
Good news: Today I was swimming in an outdoor pool and found a sad little grasshopper desperately trying to swim to shore (the concrete ledge of the pool). Having read your blog last night, I took pity and helped him to shore. It was all worth the grateful look in his eyes afterwards. He'll probably go on to become a source of protein for a sparrow or something, but I'll always know that that grasshopper and I shared a special moment ;)
Well done! I don't think they are much for swimming but talk about "from the frying pan into the fire". Biology is so fun.
Oops, forgot to mention. The grasshoppers should be weaned from their natural diet, as it tends to be rather alkaline, and fed on a less bitter diet prior to roasting. They taste better that way. Am I really posting this?
OK, here are some opinions from the very serious lab we had today.
-http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explotime.html
Tons of good information but a bit too museum-like which then begs the question, Isn't that the idea? Perhaps, but information distilled down to primarily facts tends to make my brain hurt.
-http://www.virtualmuseum.ca
Good content and information load. I thought this was a good introduction to each topic and encouraged the viewer to explore further.
Gotta go to a reading group. Be back soon.
OK, I'm back. For anyone who is interested the Plant/Animal Interaction reading group meets on Monday evenings at 5:30 in Ramaley N240. I know, dodge ball meets at the same time. I am trying to forget that fact. Back to the interactive sites.
-http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/kids/
I like this one. Fun stuff for us kids to do at home while learning about science stuff.
-http://www.nhm.ac.uk/kids-only/fun-games/index.html
Oh boy is this one fun! Interesting facts and games to reinforce the message.
So, the questions arises what is a museum? I am not sure that I have yet seen a definition that adequately includes this type of information dissemination. Discussion please.
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