Honors Forensic Science

Entomology Project

We will exposepork to the outside elements for one month in order to simulate the decomposition of animals after death, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the ADH calculations for the Green Bottle Blowfly. You will be expected to maintain an organized journal that includes the daily temperature and weather conditions, and observations/measurements for your chosen sample on the days that we visit them. Temperature and weather data must be collected for days when there is no class so that we are able to properly analyze our findings.At the end of the month long study, you will be asked to write a report of your findings using terms and knowledge gained from the entomology/time of death unit.

Project Requirements:

  • Hypothesis:Calculate the time in hours that you expect to observeeach stage of the blowfly using the average temperature in Timonium (21093) for October 2017. You can find this information at wunderground.com, which will give you the historic data.
  • Journal:
  • The journal should be clearly organized in an easy to follow format. The journal does not need to be typed in the end unless it is illegible to another reader.
  • Initial set-up conditions described. What did the meat originally look like? Describe the environment in which you placed your meat. What were the current weather conditions?
  • On days we observe the sample, record:
  • Record temperature & weather
  • Visual observations of the meat
  • Pictures, diagrams, drawings – you may use your phone to take pictures. At least one picture a week must be taken and included in your final journal.
  • Type of larvae present, quantity, size. This will require you to measure your samples with a ruler.
  • On days we do not observe the samples (this includes weekends and days off), record:
  • The average temperature for the day and notable weather conditions (rain, high winds, snow)
  • Conclusion: This part of the project is an individual effort. Academic dishonesty of any kind will result in a zero for the entire project. A final conclusion for this project should include the following:
  • Compare your hypothesis to your data. How many hours/days did it take for you to see each stage of larvae on your sample? How effective are the ADH calculations for the Green Bottle Blowfly?
  • What factors could have affected the speed of the lifecycle?
  • How precise was the data you collected?
  • How would you improve this project in the future?

Grade:This project will count as a 100 point Test/Project grade. Please see attached rubric for specific expectations for this project. THE RUBRIC MUST BE INCLUDED WITH YOUR PROJECT!!!!! The conclusion is an individual effort. Any academic dishonesty will result in a zero for the entire project.

Project Due Date: Wednesday, November 7th (A day) Thursday November 8 (B day)

Entomology Project RubricName: ______

Objective / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Hypothesis / Student correctly predicted the time for all stages of the blowfly lifecycle using local daily averages. / Student correctly predicted the time for 3-4 stages of the blowfly lifecycle using local daily averages. / Student correctly predicted the time for 1-2 stages of the blowfly lifecycle using local daily averages. / Student did not correctly predicted the time for the stages of the blowfly lifecycle using local daily averages.
Initial Set-Up / The student provided all details on the initial set-up of the sample including time, date, location, condition of the sample. / The student provided 2-3 details on the initial set-up of the sample including time, date, location, condition of the sample. / The student provided 1 detail on the initial set-up of the sample including time, date, location, condition of the sample. / The student provided no details on the initial set-up of the sample.
Journal Organization / The student created an organized journal including data charts, diagrams, and pictures. / The student created a some-what organized journal including data charts, diagrams, and pictures. / The student created a disorganized journal including data charts, diagrams, and pictures. / The student did not create an organized journal.
Data Charts / The student maintained data charts for all of the following: weather, temperature, larva types and measurements, and observations. / The student maintained data charts for 3-4 of the following: weather, temperature, larva types and measurements, and observations. / The student maintained data charts for 1-2 of the following: weather, temperature, larva types and measurements, and observations. / The student did not maintain any data charts.
Diagrams and Pictures / The student included all relevant diagrams and pictures of the samples from the shared drive. / The student included some diagrams and pictures of the samples from the shared drive. / The student included minimal diagrams and pictures of the samples from the shared drive. / The student did not include any diagrams or pictures of the samples.
Completion / The student provided data for the entire month of the sample collection. / The student provided data for at least 25 days of the sample collection. / The student provided data for at least 20 days of the sample collection. / The student missed more than 11 days of data for the sample collection.
Larva Present / The student correctly identifies all stages of larva present on the sample. / The student correctly identifies most stages of larva present on the sample. / The student correctly identifies few stages of larva present on the sample. / The student does not correctly identify the stages of larva present on the sample.
Data Collection Participation / The student actively participates in class data collection everyday. / The student actively participates in class data collection most days. / The student actively participates in class data collection on occasion. / The student did not actively participate in class data collection.
Objective / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Spelling & Grammar / The student used appropriate spelling and grammar throughout the project. / The student had minimal spelling and grammar mistakes throughout the project. / The student had several spelling and grammar mistakes throughout the project. / The project is difficult to read because of the numerous spelling and grammar mistakes.
Rubric / The rubric was turned in with the project. / The rubric was not turned in with the project.

Conclusion:

Objective / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Comparison of Data to the Hypothesis / The student accurately compares sample data to the hypothesis and provides examples. / The student accurately compares sample data to the hypothesis but does not provide examples. / The student attempts to compares sample data to the hypothesis but does not provide example. / The student does not answer the question.
Effectiveness of ADH Calculations / The student uses data to accurately access the effectiveness of the ADH calculations. / The student accesses the effectiveness of the ADH calculations but does not support it with data. / The student does not make an accurate evaluation on the effectives of the ADH calculations. / The student does not answer the question.
Factors Influencing the Cycle / The student uses data to accurately predict factors that influenced the cycle. / The student identifies factors that influenced the cycle but does not support it with data. / The student does not make an accurate evaluation of the factors that influence the cycle. / The student does not answer the question.
Precision of Data / The student correctly identifies all errors that contributed to the precision of the data. / The student correctly identifies some errors that contributed to the precision of the data. / The student correctly identifies 1 error that contributed to the precision of the data. / The student does not answer the question.
How to Improve Future Tests / The student offers suggestions that would better the experiment. / The student offers suggestions that may or may not better the experiment. / The student offers suggestions that will not better the experiment. / The student does not answer the question.

Total Score: ______/45 points

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