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  • Population Peril

    Book Chapter | October 2008

    Rising air temperatures have changed the extent and timing of sea ice formation in the Arctic, forcing some polar bear populations to go longer each year without food. In this activity, students assume the role of…

  • Population Ecology

    Book Chapter | March 2009

    In this unit, students explore how biotic and abiotic factors affect population growth. They explore the effects of competition on growth of different species of molds. Students have actively growing cultures with which…

  • Population Growth

    Book Chapter | May 2014

    The purpose of this lab is to introduce students to how population size changes over time and to determine ”How Do Changes in the Amount and Nature of the Plant Life Available in an Ecosystem Influence Herbivore…

  • Population Growth

    Book Chapter | July 2015

    The purpose of this lab is to introduce students to the concept of population growth and some of the factors that can affect the size of a population. Specifically, it gives them an opportunity to explore ”What Factors…

  • Billions of Us: Scale and Population

    Book Chapter | April 2009

    Population is increasingly important as both a scientific and a political subject. The world is getting more crowded. Providing students with the tools to understand population numbers is not only important for their…

  • Cats and Their Impact on Wildlife Populations

    Book Chapter | January 2004

    Could you be harboring a killer in your home? Is it possible that the cute little cat snoozing so angelically on the sofa is one of the major predators of wildlife in the United States? With a U.S. population of 60…

  • Predator-Prey Population Size Relationships

    Book Chapter | May 2014

    The purpose of this lab is to introduce students to the concept of a predator-prey population size relationship and to determine ”Which Factors Affect the Stability of a Predator-Prey Population Size Relationship?” The…

  • Decline in Saltwater Fish Populations (Ecology and Human Impact on the Environment)

    Book Chapter | November 2012

    The purpose of this chapter is to help students understand the factors influencing the survival of organisms in an environment, focusing on the interdependent relationships in an ecosystem. It calls attention to the…

  • How Does Climate Change Affect Oyster Populations?

    Journal Article | February 2020

  • Environmental Change and Evolution: Which mechanism of microevolution caused the beak of the medium ground finch population on Daphne Major to increase in size between 1976 and 1978?

    Book Chapter | June 2015

    In this chapter, the purpose of this Lab 18 is for students to apply what they know about migration, genetic drift, and natural selection to explain the evolution of beak size in a population of birds. …

  • Predicting Population Curves: Using inquiry in the biology classroom to study populations

    Journal Article | April 2003

    A study of gray wolf populations in Wisconsin sparks inquiry in the biology classroom. Students evaluated variables that would affect the wolves, and developed one graph and a defense statement that the students agreed…

  • Home Connections: Counting Populations

    Journal Article | January 2004

    This activity, designed for students to do at home, introduces the concept of population sampling. Students scatter pasta on a grid and count the number of pieces in three sample boxes.

  • Field Surveys of Amphibian Populations

    Journal Article | October 2000

    Amphibian Research, a course offered at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana, introduces freshmen- and sophomore-level biology and environmental science majors to investigative field research. Students learn to…

  • Citizen Science: Ecosystems and Eagle Populations

    Journal Article | January 2017

    This column highlights formal and informal science research projects that students can join and contribute to by gathering and sharing data. Soar into systems thinking with the Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey.

  • Idea Bank: The Human Population Game

    Journal Article | April 2004

    The future of civilization and the biosphere depend partly on what is accomplished in the classroom today. Population, resource use, and population’s impact on the environment are often studied separately and passively…

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