Resources

Modeling Scenario

1-065-AlgalBlooms-ModelingScenario

Author(s): R. Corban Harwood

George Fox University, Newberg OR USA

Keywords: direction fields tool:dfield algae harmful algae blooms population compartment Lake Chapala

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Abstract

Resource Image This modeling scenario investigates the massive algal blooms that struck Lake Chapala, Mexico, starting in 1994.

Citation

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Article Context

Resource Type
Differential Equation Type
Technique
Qualitative Analysis
Application Area
Course
Course Level
Lesson Length
Technology
Approach
Skills
Key Scientific Process Skills
Assessment Type
Pedagogical Approaches
Vision and Change Core Competencies - Ability
Principles of How People Learn
Bloom's Cognitive Level

Description

After reading a summary of articles written on the incidents, students are guided through the process of creating a first order differential equation from a verbal model of the factors and analyze the nonautonomous ordinary differential equation using direction field, parameter evaluation, and exact solution computation to fully describe the population behavior. Students are expected to be familiar with the separable method and direction fields.

Students will learn building and improving a model from qualitative descriptions, nondimensionalization, evaluating parameters, and how to use DFIELD software to interactively analyze a first order differential equation.

An alternative modeling investigation of this problem leads to a nonlinear system of equations shown in modeling scenario

Article Files

Authors

Author(s): R. Corban Harwood

George Fox University, Newberg OR USA

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