AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY FIELD TRIP Museum Address: 79th Street and Central Park West, New York, NY

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1 AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY FIELD TRIP Museum Address: 79th Street and Central Park West, New York, NY Internet Information The Museum's home page is You may want to see this before you go. ASSIGNMENT General Instructions You may visit the Museum on your own, or join the Instructor at the Museum on, at. Feel free to bring family/friends. NOTE: YOU MUST ATTACH THE TICKET YOU ARE GIVEN WHEN YOU VISIT THE MUSEM TO YOUR LABORATORY REPORT OR IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Report. Before you go, be sure you have directions to the Museum, and the Question Sheet. All students must complete the Question Sheet. All the questions but one can be answered with information you will gather at the museum. The remaining question will require some additional research. NOTE THAT WHILE MANY OF YOU WILL VISIT THE MUSEUM TOGETHER, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS YOURSELVES, AND ANSWER IN YOUR OWN WORDS ONLY. THE QUESTION SHEET MUST BE HANDED IN NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 5, IF YOU DO NOT GO WITH YOUR INSTRUCTOR, YOU MUST STAPLE YOUR ADMISSION TICKET TO THE REPORT, OR IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ON THE DAY OF YOUR VISIT Admission Bring your Student ID so you will only have to pay the student entrance fee. There are other things to see too, such as IMAX and the Planetarium, but these have additional charges. Plan to spend about four hours at the Museum, and either bring lunch or plan to buy lunch there. THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO ENTER THE MUSEUM: 1) THE FRONT ENTRANCE, ON CENTRAL PARK WEST, 2) THE PLANETARIUM ENTRANCE, ON 81st STREET 3) THE SUBWAY ENTRANCE, CORNER OF 81st STREET AND CENTRAL PARK WEST. LINES ARE GENERALLY SHORTEST AT THE SUBWAY ENTRANCE! NOTE THAT THERE ARE NOW SELF-SERVE TICKET STANDS IN THE ROTUNDA, AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE, WHICH HAVE MUCH SHORTER LINES In order to complete the Question Sheet, you will visit seven exhibits in the following order: 1) Wallach Orientation Center (fourth floor); 2) Vertebrate Origins Hall (fourth floor) 3) Primitive Mammals hall (fourth floor) 4) the Milstein Hall of Advanced Mammals (fourth floor), 5) the Spitzer Hall of Human Evolution, 6) Warburg Hall of New York State Environment (first floor), and 7) the Hall of Biodiversity (first floor). BUT IF YOU HAVE EXTRA TIME, DON'T MISS THE TWO DINOSAUR HALLS ON THE FOURTH FLOOR--PEOPLE TRAVEL TO NEW YORK FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO SEE THOSE EXHIBITS, AND THEY WILL BLOW YOU AWAY. **MEET IN THE THEODORE ROOSEVELT ROTUNDA** (AT THE ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE WITH THE BAROSAURUS SKELETONS) THIS IS THE MAIN ENTRANCE FACING CENTRAL PARK WEST (The Rotunda is actually on the second floor see maps at end) Prepared by B. Borowsky, PhD 1

2 DIRECTIONS TO THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY The quickest and least stressful way to get there is to take the LIRR to the city, then take the subway uptown to the museum By Subway The Long Island Rail Road terminates in Manhattan at Penn Station (34th Street). You can take the C (subway) directly from 34th street to 81st Street, which is actually in the basement of the museum. Another method if the C is not running: take the 1 or 9 trains from Penn Station, and get off at Broadway and West 79th Street, two blocks west of the Museum. Some alternative ways to get there are: By Bus: The M79 bus travels east/west on W. 79th Street across Central Park, with a stop next to the Museum on W. 81st Street. Other buses also stop at or near the Museum, including the M7, M10, M11, M86 and M104 buses. By Car: Parking is available. Enter at 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. The hours of operation are 8am -11pm. Last time I checked, the rates were as follows (WITH TICKET VALIDATION): Up to 2 hrs $ to 5 hrs $ to 10 hrs $39.00 Max to close $46.00 They can increase, of course, at any time. To receive these rates, you must get your parking ticket validated when you purchase/pick up your tickets at the Museum. Entrance The Museum is located at 79th Street and Central Park West. It is open from 10:00AM to 5:45 every day of the year except Christmas and thanksgiving.. If you can't stay long, just pay the general admission fee. If you have time, you will enjoy IMAX and/or the planetarium (Rose Space Center), but each of these has an additional charge. Entrance Fees BRING YOUR STUDENT ID. FEES ARE LESS EXPENSIVE FOR STUDENTS. General entrance $11.00 (or what you feel you can pay) IMAX-add $5.50 Rose Center and Space Show, add $6.50 Prepared by B. Borowsky, PhD 2

3 AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY FIELD TRIP LABORATORY REPORT COURSE AND SECTION: DATE NAME: 1) STATION Begin at the Wallach Orientation Center (fourth floor) TOPIC: ORIENTING VISITORS TO EVOLUTION HALLS If it is being shown, view the video in this room, which introduces you to the concepts of evolution, and acquaints you with the organization of Halls on the fourth floor of the museum. How is the fourth floor organized (by what scientific principle)? 2) STATION Vertebrate Origins Hall (fourth floor) TOPIC: ORIGINS OF THE TERESTRIAL VERTEBRATES After you ve seen the video, stop at the entrance of the Vertebrate Origins Hall. On the right hand side is a cladogram showing how the vertebrates evolved. Note that the cladogram tree branches at certain points. These represent milestones in vertebrate evolution: new features that were so advantageous, that they led to a great radiation of new forms. Select three miletones from the cladogram and discuss why you think they were so important to the evolution of the vertebrates Now walk into the Hall. About 1/3 of the way in, you will see a Coelacanth suspended from the ceiling. It is a fish about four feet long. Just beneath the coelacanth is a glass case called Extinct Relatives of Tetrapods. What is a tetrapod? Were any of the specimens in this case tetrapods? What is(are) the structure(s) that Sauripteris taylori and Eusthenopteron had in common that make scientists believe they are related to the ancestor of the tetrapods? Prepared by B. Borowsky, PhD 3

4 Continue walking through the Hall, through the Saurischian Dinosaurs Hall and continue through several more Halls until you come to the Hall of Primitive Mammals. 3) STATION Primitive Mammals Hall (fourth floor) TOPIC: ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE MAMMALS Walk towards the large windows. Then turn around and, with your back towards the windows, face the exhibit in the middle of the room ("Finding Evolutionary Features ). Walk to the right. The first thing you will be examining is the skeleton on the far right. What is the scientific name of the earliest relative of mammals? What is the taxonomic Class of this animal? What is the characteristic of the skull that makes scientists think that this species was related to the mammals? What is the function of this structure in modern mammals? Now spend some more time looking at this exhibit. Select one of the skeletons, and, based on its dentition, indicate what you think the animal ate. Mammal s name: Main food source: 4) STATION Milstein Hall of Advanced Mammals (fourth floor) TOPIC: EVIDENCE FOR EVOLUTION Now continue walking past the giant sloth and into the Milstein Hall of Advanced Mammals. The first free-standing glass case on your right contains fossils which show the evolution of the modern horse called: "A Textbook Case Revisited". What is the scientific name of the earliest horse shown in this case? [Look at the far right hand side of the Exhibit] Prepared by B. Borowsky, PhD 4

5 What is the modern horse s scientific name? [Look at the far LEFT hand side of the Exhibit] Name three differences between the earliest horse in the case and the modern one Find the small diagram of the evolution of the horse that s painted in black on the case on the far left. This is the entire sequence of fossils that were thought were involved in the evolution of the horse at the turn of the last century. How many fossils were thought to be involved? What happened that made scientists rethink their previous theories about how the horse evolved? How many species in this case are DIRECTLY in the evolutionary line that scientists currently believe resulted in the modern horse? How many species in this case are related to the modern horse, but are not directly in their evolutionary line? How does this all change the concept of evolution (that species change over time)? What does the pattern of dentition (the kinds of teeth) tell us about a species in general? What can the teeth of a specific individual tell us about that individual? What did Mesohippus eat? What did Merychippus eat? Prepared by B. Borowsky, PhD 5

6 What do the teeth of the fossil species that led to the modern horse tell us about environmental conditions associated with the evolution of the horse? Continue walking through Milstein Hall, and take the elevator near the Café on 4 down to the first floor. Right in front of you you will see three skeletons that mark the entrance to the Hall of Human Origins 5) STATION Hall of Human Origins (first floor) TOPIC: HUMAN EVOLUTION First, it s important to learn what a primate is. Enter the Hall and find the exhibit called Fossil Primates. (The exhibit is on the wall that s directly to the RIGHT of the entrance into the hall). STOP 1: Fossil Primates (1b on the map). Humans are members of the Primate Order. Name two important characteristics that most primates have: In addition to sharing primate characteristics, humans have several very distinct features. This information is provided in the Hall, but not all in one place. As you go through the exhibit, note three characters that are very special in humans. It is important to recognize that each of these characters individually might be present in other species, at least in some form, but it is the possession of all three of these in combination that makes humans so unique. Note that as this information is in several places in the exhibit you should jot them down as you go (See especially Room 4) STOP 2: Our Family Tree (1b on the map). This Exhibit is on the wall immediately behind the Fossil Primates (it has about 15 skulls on it). 1. How many of these species ARE WE SURE are direct ancestors of Homo sapiens? 2. How many species of the original Family of Hominoid primates exist today? Prepared by B. Borowsky, PhD 6

7 STOP 3: The History of Human Evolution Dioramas (Room 2 on the map) Now walk into the next room. The room contains dioramas of five species. The first, and most remarkable, and oldest, is located right at the entrance of this room. 1. What is the scientific name of this species? 2. How long ago did individuals of this species live? Just behind the diorama you will find more information about this species. 3. What is the nickname that scientists gave this particular fossil? 4. What is the main reason why scientists think this is the ancestor of modern humans? Look at the exhibit that points out the main skeletal differences between modern humans and their ancestors (this is in the glass case on the left of the door to the next room [Room 3]). List four important differences STOP 4: OPTIONAL: DO IF TIME. The Importance of DNA Analyses (1a on the map) Now walk back to the first part of the exhibit and find the exhibit on DNA (on the LEFT side of the main entrance. 1. How is the Y chromosome inherited? 2. What is the function of the Y chromosome in humans? 3. What do comparisons of the DNA in Y chromosomes tell us specifically? 4. How are mitochondria inherited? 5. So what do comparisons of mitochondrial DNA in different persons tell us specifically? Prepared by B. Borowsky, PhD 7

8 STOP 5: Human Migrations (Room 3) Now walk back through the hall with the dioramas, and enter the third room. Look at the exhibit on the wall on your immediate left. This exhibit explains how humans have come to occupy most of the earth. 1. When did modern Homo sapiens evolve? Or: how old is our species? 2. Where did humans evolve? 3. When did humans get into Europe? 4. Where did they come from immediately before they arrived in Europe? 5. Two modern groups of people are highlighted in this exhibit. a. What makes the Basques unique? b. What makes the Khosian people unique? And why do they think this? (What scientific evidence do we have for this)? Now turn around and exit from the Hall where you entered, and passing the elevators on your right, continue into the Warburg Hall of New York State Environment. 6) STATION Warburg Hall of New York State Environment (first floor) STOP 1. TOPIC: GLACIATION IN NASSAU COUNTY When you get off the elevator, turn right, and enter the Warburg Hall of New York State Environment. Find the diorama on the left hand side which describes glaciation in New York. What is a glacier? What causes a glacier to form? How many years ago did the last glacier cover our area? Specifically, how far down through New York did the last glacier extend? Prepared by B. Borowsky, PhD 8

9 How do you think a glacier affects plants and animals near it? Continue walking through the Hall until you come to the giant tree slice on the left hand side of the Hall. STOP 2. TOPIC: TREE GROWTH PATTERNS What species of tree is this (provide scientific name)? Where did it grow? How old is it? And how did scientists decide its age? Now look at the glass case just beneath the slice. What species of tree is this (provide scientific name)? How old is it? How do you account for the difference in sizes between these two trees? Continue walking in the same direction to the Hall of Biodiversity 7) STATION Hall of Biodiversity (First floor) TOPIC: THE SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY, AND THE THREAT AND CONSEQUENCES OF EXTINCTIONS Walk immediately to the wall on your left with all the animals and plants mounted on it. STOP 1: The scope of biodiversity. This exhibit is designed to make us aware of the enormous diversity of living things, and, at the same time, warn us that indiscriminate development is causing the extinction of many species--most before we even know they exist. How are the specimens on the wall organized? (By what principle?) Prepared by B. Borowsky, PhD 9

10 Name two species that are new to you that you found interesting, and why Face the African Jungle display. Walk all the way around the left side, so that you re in the narrow alleyway behind the Jungle exhibit. Face the back wall of the jungle exhibit, and you will see a large plaque. STOP 2: The scope of extinctions. Look at the plaque. What is it commemorating? Select four species that we know have become extinct since the 1550 s from the list on the plaque. List their common name (this is in English), their scientific name (Genus and species), and where they used to live from information provided on the plaque. After you get home, write one or two sentences about them, focusing on why they became extinct. You will have to do a bit of additional research for this. BE SURE TO CITE YOUR SOURCES OF INFORMATION. SPECIES COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME 1 FORMER GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Background information for each species and source(s) of your information: 1 2 Prepared by B. Borowsky, PhD 10

11 3 4 STOP 3: Topic Revealed at the Museum!! Last, but most important, walk to the far end of the alleyway, called The Resource Center where the plaque is, and watch the last video there. There are many videos in this hall, and on this wall, but the one I want you to see is the last one at the end of the alley, on your right hand side (the same wall as the plaque, but at the other end). It is one of the small screens against the wall, not the big ones at the ends of the alley, which have benches in front of them. The topic is HUMAN POPULATION AND RESOURCES IN THE WORLD. It is a continuous loop, and you may come upon it when it s somewhere in the middle. Make sure you view the entire video. I do not want to tell you what it s about you ll see why when you view it. Describe what happens in this video. What is this video trying to show us? Final Impressions On the back of this page, prepare a brief paragraph about your trip on the other side of this page. What, of all the things you saw, was most interesting for you? You may answer this on the other side of the paper if you need more space. [Your grade does not depend upon this section. If you disliked this trip, feel free to say so!] Prepared by B. Borowsky, PhD 11