31st Annual Student Research Conference
Increasing Diversity in Student Insect Collections
Alyssa K. Johnson
Dr. Laura Fielden, Faculty Mentor
Student insect collections in entomology classes at Truman State University are an underutilized resource that can serve as indicators of pollutants such as nitrogen, heavy metals, and light pollution. Shifts in insect distribution and abundance may also result from climate change as CO<sub>2</sub> levels rise and affect average rainfall and temperature. However, in order to be used as a measure of relative diversity and abundance, bias must be reduced so that insect collections are as reflective of the insect population as possible. The purpose of this study was to increase diversity in student insect collections by adding new collecting methods.
Keywords: insect, diversity, entomology, student
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 3-15
Location: GEO - SUB
Time: 3:30