How Do I Become a Field Naturalist?

Authoritative work by 15 world-class scientists in fieldwork records, selected into 11 scientific books in Brain Picking, Harvard's fieldwork and fieldwork instruction course, natural practice guidebook for natural science, Nature Magazine, New Science Man, Recommended by The Wall Street Journal, George Schaller, etc.

Field notes

The authoritative works of 15 world top scientists in fieldwork records, private notes rarely shared with others.

"Field Notes" by Michael Canfield. The authoritative work of 15 world top scientists in fieldwork records, a guided course on fieldwork and scientific fieldwork at Harvard University.

Starting with the great scientists Darwin, Wallace, and Bates, one of their important tools to explore the natural world is to keep detailed notes at all times. This book introduces the field notes of more than ten field scientists and naturalists. They show their perspectives from their personal and field activities, experience of field notes, development of field activities, and the fun and value of field activities. It shows the scientific recording process of man and nature and the wonderful taste of nature and society.

With the help of this book, anyone can get a glimpse of the outstanding field scientists and naturalists and delve into the details of their diaries. The focus of Field Notes revolves around several key questions: what kind of notes should scientists make? How much detail should they record? What kind of note format is best to use? What can sketches and illustrations tell them? How will these notes be used in the future? and many more.

The second half of the 20th century witnessed the rise of molecular and cellular biology, one of the greatest achievements in the history of science. Biological research at the molecular level establishes the accepted first law of biology, that is, all entities and processes of life follow the laws of physics and chemistry. Part of the reason for this research's success is that it focuses on exploring specific basic issues through dozens of "model organisms", such as molecular genetics with E. coli and C. elegans for neurological development. Molecular support, using bees to study the molecular foundations of advanced social organizations. Molecular biologists have always paid relatively little attention to higher-level biological organizations, whether organisms, populations, ecosystems, and societies. In addition, they never value history. As a result, in the 20th century, the second law of biology was relatively little studied, that is, all entities and processes of life evolved through natural selection.

Biologists in the 21st century have begun to pursue a balance between these two areas. Even at the molecular and cellular level, the integrated tide is rapidly developing-how entities and processes cooperate to form cells, which in turn create organisms. On the whole, biology is turning to species comparison. Understanding the full diversity of lifefrom molecules to ecosystemshas become a whole new goal. All this did not happen suddenly. Humans now urgently need a broader integrated biology to enhance personal health and public health. Support biotechnology, manage and protect natural resources, at least to understand ourselves more completely and wisely.

Natural science is the source of new biology. This statement is not a literal permission. It is axiom. Earth has always been a planet we know little about. Most species (more than 90% if microorganisms are counted) are still unknown. About 2 million species have been described and scientifically named, but less than 10% have been thoroughly studied. Many ecosystems in the world have only been examined roughly, if that's the case. But the question is, how can we understand the world we live in, aside from management, protection, and full use, with little knowledge?

Blessed is the naturalist. As researchers, everything they touch becomes gold because we know too little about the world. Every data they collect can be useful for every organism or ecosystem they choose to study. Waking up in the wild every morning, they know what major discoveries they might encounter. Although no specific method has been used to measure it, I am convinced that if calculated at the rate of discovery per person per hour, field research must greatly exceed the laboratory. This is my experience over the years.

My personal record was that I was studying ants with Bert Hölldobler for a week at a field station at the Organization of Tropical Studies in La Selva, Costa Rica. We are happy to move from one ant to another, those that have not been previously studied. Based on our promptly completed notes and further work after returning home, we published 5 papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Naturalists know that whether they hike a day or stay in a camp or research station for a year, what they see in the wild is only a tiny part of the world around them. They also knew that whether they went to Amazon or to a park near their home, they would know biological novelties. This is even more the case when they select species that have not been studied extensively for observation-95% or more of them in Amazon, and perhaps 60% to 70% in urban parks.

The most significant adventure in my life was climbing the summit of the middle foot of the Sarawaget Range in Papua New Guinea. Not so much because I was the first to do so in 1955. Outsiders, but because I can search for ants in high-altitude forests in their original state. For natural science, exploring the rich and unknown world is the main motivation. When I was studying ants in the West Indies near the age of 80, this feeling was no worse than when I was 20 years old.

If there is a paradise and I have access, all I have to ask for is an endless world in which to stroll and explore. I will carry an inexhaustible notebook and hand the report to a more sedentary soul (mostly molecular and cell biologists). Along the way I will look forward to meeting like-minded souls, the authors of the articles in this book.

Foreword 1

Introduction 5

1 Watching Fun 001

I hurriedly wrote down what happened in the pocket notebook or added it later, often a few keywords, and I didn't even read the paper when I wrote it, especially at night. It is important to take notes quickly, as we all know that memory is unreliable.

2 Open Treasure 015

One morning, as I walked in early spring, I flipped through my notes. I realized that it was thanks to those notes that I went from a boy running barefoot to a naturalist, scientist, and an active participant trying to solve the mystery of nature.

3 give the directory a half applause 031

In the early years of my adventure, I was strongly attracted to birds. A small list card published by the Wichita Audubon Society has directly reversed my understanding of birds: how many species can I find? Can I find species that are not on the list?

4 reflections on the truth 049

Earlier in my career, I discovered that in order to become a naturalist, it was necessary to master two technical aids: first, collecting specimens, and secondly, taking records accordingly.

5 ties up generations of researchers 067

Although the virtual world is constantly expanding, Google Earth can take you to any wild place on the planet, but this is not an alternative to actually going there and spending some time strolling on the earth.

6 words and treatments and unexplained meaning 087

As a stranger who came suddenly, he could not propose to follow the villagers all day and record their actions. Although the Mayans are known for their hospitality, they may be able to respond to such requests. One step I found to help me integrate into their society was to map the village.

7 Eye of the Beholder 105

Regardless of what is recorded, whether it is animal behavior, plant results, or dawn reveals: everything must be processed and translated into words, numbers, drawings, photos, or any other communication routine used to inform others Or equipment.

8Why draw a sketch? 133

Painting is still closely related to scientists and naturalists. Although technological innovations provide powerful new information recording tools, all field scientists can use simple drawing techniques to enhance their ability to record nature.

9 The Evolution and Destiny of Botany Field Notes 149

Botany field notes are the product of a strong personal imprint. Needless to say, they are valuable and useful for future researchers and historians, but now they are rapidly fading out the traditional norms of hardcover handwriting.

10 pencil hate notes 163

The paper age is rapidly declining, and it is not hard to imagine that at some point in the future, students will be confused by a strange primitive tool called a "pencil". For me, that time will not come soon.

11 Letters to the future 173

Reading the handwritten notes of those researchers who have long been ancient is a profound experience. It is particularly beneficial to be able to see how they nurture ideas, which later matured in published manuscripts.

12Why take a field note? 211

During the hasty heyday of exploring the unknown in Europe, many scientists and naturalists returned from distant expeditions to publish their own field logs and often became bestsellers.

Thanks 231

Appendix: Note 235

Michael R. Canfield

He graduated from the University of Michigan and Harvard University and is a lecturer in the courses of organism and evolutionary biology at Harvard University. In addition to his research on the evolutionary biology of insects, he is also fascinated by bioprospecting, as well as historical records of scientists and nature.

The 15 scientists who compiled the book are distinguished researchers in the fields of anthropology, botany, ecology, entomology, and paleontology. Among them, George Schaller, a zoologist, naturalist, and director of the International Wildlife Conservation Society. He is dedicated to the protection and research of wildlife. He has been rated as one of the top three in the world by Time Magazine. One of the most outstanding wildlife research scholars. His work "The Lion of Serengeti" won the 1972 US National Book Award, and "The Last Panda" and "Living on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau" based on his research experience in China also became international bestsellers. ^[1]