iNat
pdf
keyboard_arrow_up
School
South Florida State College *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
101
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
Pages
4
Uploaded by ColonelRockFrog26
Name: __________________________
Critical Thinking Assignment
Instructions: Using your own personal observations that you submitted to iNaturalist, think
about, and answer the following questions. Questions must be answered in a short essay format,
using complete sentences. Citations must be provided when external sources are used.
1. URL to your iNaturalist profile:
2. Complete the table below.
I. On the left side of the table, list the species (or genus, etc.) you observed and list the
total number of observations in Florida for each species. To find the total number of
observations in Florida for each species, first select one of your observations. On the
observation page, click on the species name at the top of the page. This will take you
to the species description page. On the description page, click "filter by place" on the
top right. Type "Florida" into the search bar and select "Florida, US (state)" Total
observations will be listed in the top right corner of the page. Complete this for all
II. On the right side of the table, list the species most observed in Florida for each
taxonomic group (for example, what is the most observed seed plant in Florida.) To
find the most observed species in Florida, go to the main menu at the top and tap
“Explore”. Then click on the “Species” tab. In the "location" box at the top, type
"Florida", and select "Florida, USA. Species are listed in order of their observation
frequency. Observation frequency is noted on each picture. List the corresponding
observation frequency in the table below. Complete this for all five taxonomic groups.
Your observed species
Most observed species in Florida
Taxonomic group Species name
Total # observed
in FL
Species name
Total # observed in
FL
seedless plant
seed plant
fungus/lichen
protostome
deuterostome
3. For each taxonomic group, divide the number observations of the most observed species in
Florida by the number of observations in Florida for your personal observation. This will tell
you how many times greater the number of observations is for the most observed species
Makayla Pearson
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/pearson_m_040
Resurrection Fern
7926
Creeping Indigo
1462
Ruffle Lichens Redworm
24
2420
Brown Anole
60510
Brown anole
60510
Gulf fritillary
14243
Christmas lichen
6047
White beggarticks
17861
Resurrection Fern
7926
compared to your species. Round this number to two decimal places and report each pair-
wise comparison below in the “Ratio” column. Assess your results and rank them from 1-5,
where “1” corresponds to the pair with the greatest difference in number of observations and
“5” is the pair with the smallest difference. Some of your rankings may be interchangeable if
your observations were the same as the most observed FL species.
Ratio Ranking
seedless plant seed plant
fungus/lichen protostome
deuterostome 4. In the table for question 2, your personally observed species may be the same as the most
observed species in Florida. For questions 5 through 7, choose one taxonomic group for
which this is not the case, AND your personal observation is marked "research grade".
Answer the questions comparing your observation for that group to the most observed
species in Florida in that group. If all your observations are the same as the most observed
species in Florida, contact your instructor.
Which taxonomic group and corresponding two species will you be discussing in questions 5
through 7?
5. A. Describe the differences and similarities in visual and/or physical traits (color, size, etc.)
between your observation and the most observed species in Florida.
B. How might these differences/similarities account for the differences/similarities in
number of observations in each pair of organisms?
1:1
1:12.22
1:2.5
1: 593.46
1:1
1st place
2nd place
3rd place
5th place
5th place
The taxonomic group will be fungus/lichen and the two species will be ruffle Lichens and Christmas Lichens
Both ruffle lichen and Christmas lichen can exhibit grayish or whitish coloration. They also form r'elatively small to moderate-sized patches or crusts on their respective substrates. Both lichen species can grow on tree bark. However,’while ruffle lichen and Christmas lichen share certain similarities in color, size, and substrate preference, their overall appearance and growth forms differ significantly. Ruffle lichen has distinctive ruffled or wrinkled lobes, while Christmas lichen has a crust-like thallus with bright orange or red fruiting bodies. These distinguishing features set them apart from each other.
'
The distinct colors of Christmas lichen, particularly its bright orange or red fruiting bodies, can m'ake it more visually conspicuous compared to the grayish-green color of ruffle lichen. This increased visibility may result in a higher number of observations for Christmas lichen since it is more likely to catch the attention of observers.For ruffle lichens, the larger size and lobed/foliose structure, can be more easily noticed and identified by observers due to its prominent physical presence. In contrast, the smaller size and crustose structure of Christmas lichen may make it less noticeable, potentially resulting in fewer observations.
6. A. Compare and describe the distribution (range) in Florida of your species and the most
frequently observed species. (Click on the map tab on the iNaturalist species description
page and zoom to Florida.)
B. Could this account for the differences in the total numbers of observations? Why or why
not?
7. A. Of the habitat types discussed in the previous iNaturalist assignment (forest, coastal,
urban, etc.) what type of habitat was your organism found in? What type of environment
would you expect to find the most observed organism?
B. How might habitat account for differences/similarities in number of observations
between the pair of species?
Ruffle lichens typically occur in forested areas, particularly on the bark of hardwood trees. These lichens have been documented in both northern and central parts of Florida, including regions such as the Panhandle, the Apalachicola National Forest, and the Ocala National Forest. On the other hand, Christmas lichens have a more restricted distribution in Florida compared to ruffle lichens. Christmas lichens are known to inhabit a variety of substrates, including rocks, tree bark, and man-made structures like fences and walls. This type of lichens have been reported in specific regions of Florida, including the northern and central parts of the state. They have been found in areas such as the Panhandle, the Apalachicola National Forest, and the Ocala National Forest, which partially overlaps with the range of ruffle lichens.
Yes, this could account for the number of observations. Ruffle lichens, with their widespread distribution throughout Florida and occurrence in various habitats, are more likely to be encountered by observers. The larger range of ruffle lichens increases the probability of their presence in different areas, leading to more opportunities for observations. This availability and accessibility contribute to a higher likelihood of encountering ruffle lichens and subsequently recording observations. On the other hand, Christmas lichens have a more more limited distribution and occurrence on various substrates, might be less commonly encountered by observers. Their specific habitat requirements, such as rocks or man-made structures, can further contribute to their lower visibility and subsequent lower number of observations. Observers who are not specifically targeting or aware of Christmas lichens might have fewer opportunities to encounter them, resulting in fewer recorded observations.
Ruffle lichens are commonly found in a variety of habitats, including both natural and human-made environments. They are commonly observed in forests, woodlands and urban areas. Christmas lichens have a more specific habitat preference, primarily occurring in rocky or exposed environments. These include cliffs, coastal areas or subalpine and alpine zones.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
For questions 7 and 8, think generally about all
organisms observed for iNaturalist; don't limit
your next responses to your own personal observations.
8. A. Describe how differences in physical and behavioral traits can account for the
differences in number of observations among organisms on iNaturalist.
B. Give an example of a behavioral or physical trait that would result in more observations.
C. Give another example of a behavioral or physical trait that would result in fewer
observations.
9. A. Describe how observer bias and observation methods might account for the variance in
number of observations among the species (or genus, etc.) you observed.
B. How might your ID specificity skew one’s interpretation of abundance as seen on
iNaturalist?
C. Do you think iNaturalist data provide an accurate reflection of natural abundance in FL?
The number of observations on Inaturalist are influenced by various human biases such as observer preferences, accessibility of habitats, and the level of interest in particular taxa. Furthermore, physical traits such as visibility and size make it harder for certain species to be observed. Lastly, behavioral traits like habitat preferences limit the abundance of observations.
An example of a physical trait that would likely result in more observations on iNaturalist is a species having bright or vibrant colors. These colors would catch the attention of observers more easily, making them more likely to be noticed and documented.
An example of a behavioral trait that would likely result in fewer observations is nocturnal activity.
Observers tend to be concentrated in specific regions, leading to regional biases in observation. Additionally , the observers skill and knowledges can affect the accuracy and frequency of observations.
Often times species can be over or under identified. This causes the abundance to be higher or lower than it actually should be.
I think the abundance is off because only a limited number of people have iNaturalist.
The availability and extent of suitable habitats for each lichen species can affect their visibility and encounter rates. If the habitat preferred by one species is more widespread or accessible compared to the other, it may result in a higher number of observations for that species. For example, if ruffle lichen habitats, such as forests and woodlands, are more prevalent and easily accessible to observers, it can lead to more observations of ruffle lichens compared to Christmas lichens, which have more specific habitat requirements. The specific habitat requirements of each lichen species can influence their distribution and abundance. If one species has a broader habitat range and can tolerate a wider range of conditions, it may have a higher likelihood of being encountered and observed.