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Activity:Berlese Funnel Arthropod Diversity From Leaf Litter
A Berlese funnel is used to separate arthropods from litter and soil samples. Arthropods can be extracted from almost any moist substrate using a Berlese funnel or similar type of apparatus. The Berlese
apparatus extracts arthropods from the substrate. The number of specimens collected is counted for each order of arthropods extracted from the sample.
Activity: Canopy Collecting
Purpose: To collect animals that live on the leaves of the tree.
Materials:
- White bed sheet
- Stick
- Vials
- Alcohol
- Aspirator
- Paintbrush
- Forceps
Procedure:
- Spread white sheet on the ground under the branches where the collection will take place.
- Shake the branch by hand or hit it several times sharply with a sturdy stick.
- Collect the arthropods that fall onto the sheet.
- Store the arthropods in the vials with alcohol to kill and preserve them.
- Label the vials.
Tip:
Some arthropods will be difficult to collect due to their small size and/or their efforts to escape. Small arthropods may be picked up with a paintbrush dipped in the alcohol in the vial. Having several people around the sheet to collect swiftly is helpful. An alternative is to spray the sheet with insecticide with the active ingredient of pyrethrin.
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