Lesson plan
Axarus
Axarus is widely distributed genus of non-biting midges with records from the Holarctic, the Neotropics and Australasia. There are currently five described nearctic species. Erected as a subgenus (Anceus) of Xenochironomus, Axarus was subsequently renamed and elevated to generic status. The Connecticut River in the eastern United States harbors locally dense populations of two Axarus species, both currently undescribed. These populations are interesting in that they are restricted to specific larval habitat (varve clay and sometimes rotting wood) and thus there is genetic structure between populations in the river. The Connecticut River species are also notable in that they have extremely well developed polytene chromosomes and also maintain a high degree of inversion polymorphism.
Article summary
Axarus is widely distributed genus of non-biting midges with records from the Holarctic, the Neotropics and Australasia. There are currently five described nearctic species. Erected as a subgenus (Anceus) of Xenochironomus, Axarus was subsequently renamed and elevated to generic status. The Connecticut River in the eastern United States harbors locally dense populations of two Axarus species, both currently undescribed. These populations are interesting in that they are restricted to specific larval habitat (varve clay and sometimes rotting wood) and thus there is genetic structure between populations in the river. The Connecticut River species are also notable in that they have extremely well developed polytene chromosomes and also maintain a high degree of inversion polymorphism.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.