The SPARCnet educational vision seeks to enhance understanding and appreciation for hidden biological diversity, increase scientific process literacy, and promote quantitative skills through biological sciences. Toward these goals, we are producing open access educational materials ready for the classroom developed by scientists in the network.
These resources are published under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, which means that you are free to use and adapt these materials in your classroom. As these resources are continuing to be further developed and expanded, we hope you will contact us and provide feedback on their implementation. We also work with QUBES to publish and further share new versions and adaptations of teaching resources related to terrestrial salamanders. Please contact Kristine Grayson (kgrayson@richmond.edu) if you are interested in publishing a new or updated teaching resource.
Jennifer Sevin, Alexa Warwick, M. Caitlin Fisher-Reid, Sarah Raisch
Version: 1.0
This module introduces students to the theme of human dimensions in conservation and provides them with an opportunity to engage in practices related to social science research.
The diversity of invertebrates occupying the leaf litter and organic layer of soil can be quantified to examine abiotic and biotic questions. This lab can be used as a starting point for a long-term study or short-term activity to study invertebrates.
Alexa Warwick, Louise Mead, M. Caitlin Fisher-Reid, Evan Grant, Chris Sutherland, Arianna Wills, Emma Perry
Version: 1.0
This activity addresses how predation may affect the frequency of two color morphs in a population. Students collect and analyze data from clay salamander models ('claymanders') to determine whether there is a difference in predation rates.
This lab introduces students to species concepts and basic computer-based tree-building methods using published nuclear and mitochondrial sequence data for Plethodon salamanders.
Louise Mead, Kristine Grayson, Alexa Warwick, David Miller, Chris Sutherland, Evan Grant
Version: 1.0
Collecting data on how populations respond to environmental change requires accurate estimates of population sizes. This activity explores one method for estimating population sizes across three different localities.
