KABT BioBlog

A few weeks ago, my fall semester field biology students and I began our studies of forest ecology.  Luckily before the majority of our local trees demonstrated their deciduous nature, we were able to travel into the field and collect quite a diversity of leaves for identificaiton.  More recently, we have turned our attention to dendrochronology methods [...]

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Back on 28 September I found this insect occupied on a log as evening approached here in northeast Kansas.  After my students found they could stump me with fairly basic questions, I told them that someday I would be back with more information on it.  My enthusiasm far exceeds my working knowledge on most insects, so I would [...]

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Last spring, at KATS KAMP, I introduced the idea of using student generated spreadsheet models to explore Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and as a substitute for the H-W simulations described in the AP-Biology lab manual. This fall at KABT’s meeting, I presented a bit about collaborative documents. I propose that we combine the two [...]

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Here’s the google map to the Fall KABT meeting. I dropped the pin in the parking lot. If you click on larger map and zoom out, you’ll be able to “ask for directions” from your address to KU up at the top of the map. See you Saturday.
BW
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From Charlie Drewes Website (click to go there)
Here’s my favorite lab for the beginning of the year: Blackworm Lab
I modified information and labs from the iconic Charlie Drewes, formerly of Iowa State University, and Randy Dix of Olathe North High School and gave it a special twist I learned from Sandy Collins of West Junior [...]

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This past school year, I became aware of a competition that fosters student appreciation and knowledge of Kansas wildlife (not entirely statewide but growing).  Now, I will be trying to organize a group of my environmental club students to participate. 

For those, like me, that have been clueless or busy over the past decade or more that this [...]

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While surfing around for ways to modify and expand my freshman classification project (i.e. insect collection), I happened upon the Lost Ladybug Project.  The introductory paragraph at the site sums up their inspiration for the project:
Over the past twenty years several native ladybug species that were once very common have become extremely rare (see details on [...]

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Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses Web Page
As a Kansas biology teacher, I’m sure you are asked all the time:  “What flower is this?”  “What’s the name of that grass?”  Over the years I’ve watched Mike Haddock’s web site grow into a fine resource.  You can find flowers listed by color by season or by both as [...]

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Recently, I came across a great resource for biology teachers and naturalists that teach some aspect of entomology: BugGuide. This site represents some of the best of the collaborative nature of the Web. The site is a rich resource. If you can’t find your information–just post an image or leave a [...]

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There are a lot of cool things happening outside, right now as we transition from late summer into fall. This challenge is an attempt to get a discussion started. Notice the ant in the lower part of this close-up photo I took this morning at the Prairie Center in west Olathe.
Here’s [...]

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