Digital Coyote: Examining Geographical Variation Using a Virtual Museum Collection

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2014, Volume 35

Declan J. McCabe & Catherine M. T. Vu

Abstract

Measuring geographical variation requires specimens from diverse locations. Hosted by Wikieducator, Digital Coyote is a virtual museum of calibrated coyote (Canis latrans) skull photographs. This open educational resource includes 70 specimens from 22 locations from Texas to Alaska, New Brunswick to Washington State. Students use digital or printed images to test the hypothesis that northeastern coyote skulls are larger than northwestern conspecifics. The image collection also includes domestic dog skulls to facilitate comparisons between artificially and naturally selected populations. A rich literature on the topic provides an entry point to species concepts, hybridization, conservation genetics, and wildlife management.

Keywords:  zoology, Evolution, coyote skulls, Canis latrans, open educational resource

University of Calgary (2013)