AMNH Excursion Report

1. Felids of Science and Aspects of the Natural World:
   Holtz: Recovery Of Fossils, Dinosauria, Study of Anatomy, and Study of Invertebrates.
   Merk: Evolution, Development of Appendages, Behavioral Development(like breeding), Evolution of Digestive Systems, and Embryology.
   Personal: Asian mammals, Anthropocene Era, Extinction, Animal Diet and Behavior.
   
2. Concepts or Discoveries:
   Holtz and Merk: Both Dr. Holtz and Merk discuss the evolution of invertebrates and how their bodily structures developed around their environments. The Evolution of Vertebrates: how today's species are distant relative to dinosaurs, however, only a select few. Dinosaurs are their own species, and if related to the Iguanodon, Megalosaurus, and Hylaeosaurus, they are then considered dinosaurs. Dinosaurs, like the triceratops and Argentinosaurus Huinculensis, structure were molded by their environments and adaptive bodies. For example, the Argentinosaurus Huinculensis breathed through its various sacs which allowed it to gain massive sizes. The triceratops developed large abdomens to account for their dietary habits and its ability to break down the plants and nutrients. Furthermore, merk describe embryology and its differences amongst dinosaurs, marine reptiles, lizards, and turtles.
   Personal: The many concepts the Asian Mammal exhibit of the museum covered in the asian mammal exhibit were the behavior attributes of various species. It ranged from their diet, what they hunted, or why they developed certain attributes.The Asian Elephant, which is smaller than the african elephant, developed its size because of the less open areas compared to that of the free savanna.
   
3. Conveying Information:
   Holtz and Merk: The halls are built to chronologically display the evolution of invertebrates like an ancestral tree. Second, Many bits of the presentation that go over embryology and show how the embryo develops in the egg. Moreover, many of the exhibits explained the nature of traits being develpoed over time: for example, the development of herbivores and their large abdomens.
   Personal: Many of the exhibits provided life size representations of the mammals, as well as a brief description the animals behavior and lifestyle.. For example, one of the exhibits had a description depicting the competitive environment that the sambar and wild dogs lived in, and their means of of finding food.
   
4. Education Level:
   Merk and Holts: Both tours by Merk and Holtz covered the evolutionary patterns and how they branched from three main species of dinosaurs: Iguanodon, Megalosaurus, and Hylaeosaurus. Pre-middle school students definitely dont learn about Darwin's Theory and why certain traits dominate and continue to be pased on. And while middle schoolers may find it manageable to comprehend, the exhibits appealed to higher education - highschoolers and above who have pre existing knowledge of behavioral develpoment and natural selection.
   Personal: The Exhibits all had very simple visuals and easy to read descriptions. Anyone of elementary level of education and above would understand this exhibit. However, the descriptions might be too high up to read, so maybe a middle schooler at least would get the most out of the experience.
   
5. Interactive Components:
   Holtz and Merk: There were minimal interactive components on both the Dr. Merk and Holtz tours. Each of the exhibits did have locations where you could view and touch bones. However, I would have liked a digital aspect that showed how certain evolutionary traits developed over time and how it benefited them in their environment and their behavior. Like the Pachycephalosaurus that had thick skulls and small brains, probably why they enjoyed banging heads with one another - or not.
   Personal: The exhibit didn't include many interactive components. While the display of animals and various geological features was alluring, there were no interactive components. They could utilize more displays or areas where you could feel a replica of the animal or be in the environment these animals were once in because the exhibit seemed to be more visually appealing than informative.
   
6. Effectiveness of Interactive Components:
   Holtz and Merk: While the interactive displays did give an idea of the scale of certain bones and features of animals, they missed the mark on what the display was meant to portray. These interactive components could have had some evolutionary aspect to them: the displays could have had some contemporary design that showed how the appendages or behaviors of dinosaurs were developed to fit their environments.
   Personal: There were no interactive components present. The main pieces of interactive components stopped at descriptions. They did set a great scene for the paired visual: such as the environment, context for the image, and whether the species were going extinct or not. However, I felt more of a spectator than being a part of the moment they tried to portray.
   
7. Out of Date?
   According to Dr. Holtz, the design of the halls, while innovative, is somewhat inaccurate as we have found more relevant information alluding to a need for new halls. This change is quite difficult as wed have to reconstruct the whole structure of the building to match the new information on the evolution of invertebrates.
   Personal: On our personal journey, everything seemed up to date. Possibly due to the fact that the asian mammal exhibit's various species originted from a more recent time period. Thus evidence and fossils maybe more accessible and easier to locate.
   

Last Updated: 12/08/2023