OCELOTS

Description

I modified the semester-long Snapshot Serengeti module by using selected resources (video, Units 3 & 4 and graphical dashboard) into two assignments that were shorter and could be completed within one lecture and three laboratory periods. This modified use achieves two of the module’s learning objectives of synthesizing the analytical steps needed for students to succinctly formulate hypotheses for wildlife management, and of creating, interpreting and comparing species graphs with the primary ecological literature to address the hypothesis.   These assignments were embedded in an upper-level undergraduate majors ecology course at the end of the semester after students has already successfully completed nine field laboratory periods. Those preceding activities focused on hands-on implementation of sampling methods for a range of taxon (birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, fish and plants), with comparisons to research methods used to characterize ecological relationships in the temperature deciduous forest biome.   The comparison to the savannah ecosystem dynamics allowed students to apply the skills they had learned to a novel case in a different biome.  

Descriptions of two assignments

1. WildCAM Gorgoronga Camera Trap Analysis: The first assignment introduced students to the range of mammal species, developed identification skills and provided a visual of the ecosystem and potential adaptations.  We used Zooinverse camera trap data from Goronogosa in Mozambique, instead of Snapshot Serengeti data, in one 50-minute lecture to go over the directions of how to use the site and what the information means. Then in one 3-hour laboratory session students try the tool, compare with each other and summarize their findings. Each student analyzed five camera trap photos following the directions on Zooinverse. I added more background information from YouTube, government documents and the primary literature to supplement the assignments (please see attachments).

2. SNAPSHOT SERENGETI hypothesis testing, graphical creation and interpretation:   The second assignment built upon the first with greater scientific depth and analysis.  In three 3-hour laboratory periods we explored and implemented resources from the SNAPSHOT SERENGETI module on GALA. I used the overview video and units 3&4 as background then had students use the dashboard of graphical analysis tools available to explore ecological relationships between two species.   Students entered all their analysis for nine graphs comparing at least two species.   They then interpreted the graphs using ecological journal articles and summarized key relationships. The first laboratory period was a demonstration with step-by-step directions on how to use the module, watch the video with discussion and how to use the graphical analysis dashboard.  In the second laboratory period, students selected the two species for which they planned to research ecological relationships, and experimented with creating the most basic graphs in the dashboard. They then used the journals listed in the supplements folder to start interpreting the results based on additional scientific data.   Students researched additional journal articles on their own. During the final laboratory period, students presented, compared and contrasted their graphical results with deeper scientific information on the complexity of the ecological relationships by focusing on answering why and how questions.   They explored diverse and robust topics including: predator-prey relationships, ecological niche, cooperative behavior, keystone species impacts, migration patterns, climate change impacts, population dynamics and diet/feeding analysis.

Overview of Module: This is a multi-week, interactive lab that will introduce you to ongoing ecological research on the wildlife of the Serengeti tropical savannah.

In this lab sequence, you will generate real scientific data to be collected in a database used for research on Serengeti wildlife populations. Additionally, you will learn to use the database to answer your own questions about Serengeti wildlife. This week you will become familiarized with the Snapshot Serengeti project and its data, practice making observations from photos and forming a hypothesis about what you observe.  Learning objectives include:

• Define Citizen Science and describe role in research
• Formulate hypotheses
• Interpret graphs
• Differentiate data types - categorical continuous data
• Use graphical data to address a hypothesis

Link to Module on Gala: https://www.learngala.com/cases/ea5a07cc-ebbf-4bb7-82a9-b68b821ff15b/

            There are three documents attached:

• FMN for OCELOTS IMPLEMENTATION AND TEACHING NOTES FOR QUBES BOWER SNAPSHOT SERENGETI 2023_edited
• FMN for OCELOTS ASSESSMENT DIRECTIONS AND ASSESSEMENT FOR QUBES BOWER SNAPSHOT SERENGETI 2023_edited
• FMN for OCELOTS SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS FOR QBES BOWER SNAPSHOT SERENGETI 2023_final

Support was provided by: A grant from the United States National Science Foundation (DBI-RCN-UBE 2120141).

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