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Integrating the modeling of biogeochemical cycles and energy flow

Author(s): Vikki L Rodgers

Babson College

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Summary:
This in-class activity challenges students to create and then integrate models of how carbon, nitrogen, water and energy all move within an ecosystem. Using 15 provided standard pools, they work independently to decide which pools are appropriate to…

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This in-class activity challenges students to create and then integrate models of how carbon, nitrogen, water and energy all move within an ecosystem. 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.

Licensed under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal

Version 1.0 - published on 30 Mar 2023 doi:10.25334/C0A9-P341 - cite this