Description

This in-class activity challenges students to create and then integrate models of how carbon, nitrogen, water and energy all move within an ecosystem. Students are assigned one of these 4 models. Using 15 provided standard pools, they work independently to decide which pools are appropriate to include for their cycle and then draw and label the fluxes that connect them. Once groups have created their models, the jigsaw technique is used to critically evaluate individual models to create an agreed upon group model for each of the 4 separate cycles. Then by creating new integrated groups of 4, the students must combine their models to understand the connections between each of the cycles. This activity is appropriate for majors and non-majors and can be adapted for use with white boards, index cards or worksheets. This activity addresses the 4DEE framework by integrating the Core Ecological Concepts in ecosystems, the Ecological Practice of modeling and working collaboratively, and the Cross-Cutting Theme of pathways & transformations of matter & energy, as well as systems-thinking. All 4 dimensions can be addressed by adding a discussion of the major human activities that are changing these natural biogeochemical cycles, thereby also addressing the dimension of the Human Environment Interaction.

This activity can be adapted in multiple different ways and some ideas are provided below. It is designed to challenge students to think about and draw complex, interacting ecosystems. Therefore, it provides an opportunity to teach structure and function, pathways and transformations of mater and energy, human accelerated environmental change, ecological practices and to practice systems thinking and concept mapping.

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