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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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How Does Climate Change Affect Oyster Populations?
Journal Article | February 2020
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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. …
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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…
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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.
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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…
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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.
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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…