Most students have seen an exponential model for population growth and know that it predicts unlimited growth. Better models, such as the logistic growth model, should incorporate assumptions to account for limitation of resources. In this activity, participants collect data from a physical simulation of resource-limited growth, prepare a variety of graphs to visualize the data, construct a verbal model based on their observations and the graphs, and (for those who want to go this far) construct a symbolic model from the verbal model.

These slides have an overview of what was discussed in the Invitation to Modeling Workshop, with links to resources embedded in presentation and listed below.

• Aikens, M., Dahlquist, K.D., Dauer, J.T., Donovan, S., Eaton, C.D., Highlander, H.C., Jenkins, K.P., Jungck, J.R., LaMar, M.D., Ledder, G., Mayes, R.L., Schugart, R.C. (2017) An Invitation to Modeling:  Building a Community with Shared Explicit Practices, to be submitted to CBE: Life Sciences Education in mid-August, draft available: https://docs.google.com/document/d/168826jQsv5zoNVXKJLaQeWC-VvXyKSB2cF28R1opZmY/edit?usp=sharing
  • Please give us feedback by commenting on this draft!

• Eaton, C.D., Callendar, H.L., Dahlquist, K.D., LaMar, M.D., Ledder, G., Schugart, R.C.  (2016)  A “Rule of Five” Framework for Models and Modeling to Unify Mathematicians and Biologists and Improve Student Learning, submitted on 20 June 2016 to the journal PRIMUS:  Problems, Resources, and Issues in Mathematics Undergraduate Studies https://arxiv.org/abs/1607.02165v2

• Kam and Drew’s Lactase Persistence Activity is based on this article:

  • Morales, E., Azocar, L., Maul, X., Perez, C., Chianale, J., & Miquel, J. F. (2011). The European lactase persistence genotype determines the lactase persistence state and correlates with gastrointestinal symptoms in the Hispanic and Amerindian Chilean population: a case–control and population-based study. BMJ open, 1(1), e000125. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000125

• Carrie’s HWE model lesson plan: https://docs.google.com/documen/d/1Re58_Gs1SMEEPhXUwcvgblpHG2mC6LT0vzhigjtPBoA/edit

  • PopGen: http://www.radford.edu/~rsheehy/Gen_flash/popgen/

• Glenn’s Resource-limited Population Growth materials: https://qubeshub.org/collections/post/3101

• HHMI Biointeractive modules on Lactase and Amylase

Invitation to Modeling draft paper

Rule of Five paper

Lactase persistence paper

Evolutionary forces with HWE

Evolutionary forces with HWE

PopGen software

Resource-limited growth

In this activity, students will use data from natural parks to examine trophic cascades.

In this activity, students will examine varying dynamics in seed dispersal by wind, bird, and monkey, interpreting data and making predictions.