The mountains and valleys of Virginia have driven fascinating stories of human culture and animal ecology. Museum scientists will discuss why these regions are so biodiverse, and how Virginia’s first human cultures gathered resources and thrived. Beginning with invertebrate and amphibian diversity and evolution, the course will explore how a complex landscape has led to unique assemblages of these creatures. The fossil record shows a similar pattern, but over time on a changing planet. The series will conclude with a look at resources use by the first Virginians prior to European contact.
Note: Suggested Reading: http://www.virginiaplaces.org/regions/physio.html
Note there are 5 physiographic regions of Virginia (Coastal Plain, Piedmont, Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley, and Appalachian Plateau). Each supports distinctive geology and climate, thus affecting the distribution of species in the Commonwealth.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/biodiversity/;
https://www.amnh.org/research/center-for-biodiversity--conservation/what-is-biodiversity
– Intro to biodiversity from National Geographic and the American Museum of Natural History https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/nature/geology.htm
– General info on the geological make-up of the Blue Ridge https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/nature/rock-outcrops.htm
– Example of rare, isolated habitats https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/nature/amphibians.htm
– General info on amphibians https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/information/big-levels-salamander/
– Example of a rare, range restricted species https://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/amphibians/salamanders/salamanders_of_virginia.htm
– Note diversity and examine distribution maps to compare widespread and micro-range species. Why are there so many species in Virginia? https://www.antweb.org/taxonomicPage.do?rank=species&adm1Name=Virginia&countryName=United%20States&images=true
– Why are there so many species of ant (over 160 in Virginia alone)? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apheloria
– A little info on the millipede genus Apheloria (af-el-or’-ee-uh). Why are they aposematically colored? What is mimicry, and specifically Mullerian mimicry?
