Creating Effective Dichotomous Keys with Bugs

The video tutorial by Miss Parrot explains how to create dichotomous keys, which are tools used by scientists to identify unknown organisms through a series of yes-or-no questions. It covers the two main types of keys: branched and numbered. The focus is on creating a numbered key, detailing the steps involved, such as setting up paired statements and choosing appropriate traits. The tutorial emphasizes using objective traits and provides examples to illustrate the process. The video concludes with a demonstration of using a dichotomous key to identify organisms and highlights the importance of peer review.

What is the primary purpose of a dichotomous key?

• To determine the age of organisms

• To describe the habitat of organisms

• To identify unknown organisms from a pool of known organisms

• To classify organisms based on their behavior

Which type of dichotomous key involves following a yes or no path?

• Numbered

• Categorical

• Branched

• Sequential

What is the first step in setting up a numbered dichotomous key?

• Setting up paired statements

• Identifying the organisms

• Choosing broad traits

• Listing the traits

How do you determine the number of paired statements needed for a dichotomous key?

• By multiplying the number of organisms by two

• By subtracting one from the number of organisms

• By dividing the number of organisms by two

• By adding one to the number of organisms

Which of the following is NOT a good trait to use in a dichotomous key?

• Color

• Physical features

• Behavior

• Size

Why should subjective traits be avoided in dichotomous keys?

• They are not related to physical features

• They are not specific enough

• They are difficult to observe

• They vary based on personal opinion

What is the purpose of choosing one broad trait in step one?

• To list all possible traits

• To separate the set into two groups

• To classify the organisms

• To identify the organism immediately

Which trait was used to separate the Carolina tiger beetle from other insects?

• Number of legs

• Presence of wings

• Metallic shine

• Color pattern

What should you do after completing the dichotomous key?

• Use it to classify new organisms

• Check and peer review it

• Publish it immediately

• Discard it if it has errors

What is the final step in verifying the accuracy of a dichotomous key?

• Getting it peer-reviewed

• Classifying new organisms

• Testing it with known organisms

• Rewriting the key