April 24/26, 2012

At the Burke, we observed several Avian specimens, and learned how the Burke and its vast collection tie into the general picture of natural history. we learn of several ways that we can collect and store data on birds, for instance, one simple way is to collect specimens, The Burke has different ways that can store that knowledge, in skeletal, plumage and DNA samples, all of which can give certain information about the organism that each of the other lack, respectfully, size, behavior, and its place in evolution.

We also observed how difference in plumage can also be indicative of behavior in the context of sexual dimorphism, where generally there is male=male competition that drives them to be brightly colored, and larger to attract females, but we also learned that there are Always exceptions to the rule, and we observed species where that was completely reversed.

Posted on June 5, 2012 05:43 PM by jjensen