Basics 3: Description with Marc Milne

In part 3 of Taxonomy Basics, Marc Milne of the University of Indianapolis tells us all about the process of identifying and publishing new species. He has tips and tricks for microscope work, finding online resources, and many other facets of the description process.
Marc is a spider taxonomist and ecologist who specializes in several different groups including Linyphiids and Nesticids. He is also a professor of Biology, and teaches classes that include entomology and evolution.

Taxonomy Basics is a three part series on basic components of species description including collecting, preserving, and describing new species. This series focuses on entomological specimens, but has concepts that work across disciplines. Listen in as Evan Waite, Ashleigh Whiffin, and Marc Milne share their guidelines and discuss important concepts in taxonomy, curation, and beyond. 

A transcript of this episode can be found here: Marc Milne - Transcript

Episode image credit: Marshal Hedin

Follow Marc on twitter: @forthespiders

Resources mentioned in this episode include: 

The World Spider Catalog: https://wsc.nmbe.ch/
Spiders of North America: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691175614/spiders-of-north-america
Salticidae of the World: https://www.jumping-spiders.com/
American Arachnological Society Guide: https://www.americanarachnology.org/about-arachnids/arachnid-orders/
LinEpig: https://linepig.fieldmuseum.org/
All Bugs Go to Kevin (Facebook Group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/AllBugsGoToKevin
iNaturalist: www.iNaturalist.org
BugGuide: https://bugguide.net/

Some scientists to learn from online:

The Bug Chicks: https://www.thebugchicks.com/
Entomologia Asturias (Christian Pertegal): https://www.twitch.tv/entomologiaasturias
Entomology Abby: https://www.instagram.com/entomologyabby/?hl=en