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Bacteria to Brains in Backyard Coyotes: An Interdisciplinary Pedagogical Case Study

Author(s): Adam Kleinschmit1, Andrea Bixler2

1. Department of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Dubuque, 2000 University Ave, Dubuque, IA 52001 2. Department of Science and Mathematics, Clarke University, 1550 Clarke Dr., Dubuque, IA 52001

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Summary:
Our interdisciplinary pedagogical case study explores the differences between rural and urban coyotes at the levels of organismal and community ecology. The focus is on how coyotes’ gut microbiomes could affect their behavior via changes in the…

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Our interdisciplinary pedagogical case study explores the differences between rural and urban coyotes at the levels of organismal and community ecology. The focus is on how coyotes’ gut microbiomes could affect their behavior via changes in the immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. The health and fitness of rural and urban coyote populations vary dramatically. Urban coyote health is poor as a result of their consumption of carbohydrate-rich anthropogenic food, compared to the natural protein-rich diet found in natural food sources. This case explores how altered microbiomes resulting from differences in diet can influence behavioral changes through the gut-brain axis, involving multiple physiological systems. The case showcases the interdisciplinary nature of science by having students explore the connection between macro- (whole organisms and communities of organisms) and micro-level (cellular and molecular interactions within an organism) systems. The case study is designed for introductory biology undergraduate students but can be adapted for more advanced and subdiscipline-focused courses within the life sciences. CourseSource DOI: https://doi.org/10.24918/cs.2024.3

Licensed under CC Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International according to these terms

Version 2.0 - published on 11 Feb 2024 doi:10.25334/Q7HA-9F51 - cite this

Keywords

  1. Vision and Change
  2. ecology
  3. introductory biology
  4. Immunology
  5. microbiology
  6. diet
  7. animal behavior
  8. microbiome
  9. core concepts
  10. coyotes
  11. Brain
  12. gut-brain axis
  13. ImmunoReach
  14. cytokine
  15. dysbiosis

Alignments

  1. Resource Type
  2. Audience Level
  3. Activity Length
  4. Open Science and Education Practices Ontology
Contents:
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Description

The case features an engaging narrative between two graduate students in animal behavior and immunology programs, unexpectedly helping each other gain insight into the complexities of each other's fields. The case was designed with face-to-face modality in mind, but could also easily be implemented in synchronous or asynchronous online courses (Bixler et al., 2021). 

Intended audience:

The case is designed for introductory life science undergraduate students but can be adapted for more advanced and focused courses (e.g., animal behavior, immunology, microbiology, neurobiology).

Overarching goal:

The overarching learning goal for this case is for students to explore the interdisciplinary nature of science, while making connections with ecological concepts with cell and molecular concepts. By the end of this case, students should be able to make connections between life science subdisciplines that span immunology, microbiology, ecology, and animal behavior. The activity is intended for use with introductory biology, general biology, or non-major biology courses. As such, the activity is used to teach fundamental biology concepts and core competencies, as listed in the Vision and Change report (AAAS, 2011), and those described in the recommended guidelines developed by the Undergraduate Immunology Education Task Force. The core concepts and the learning outcomes for this activity are noted below:

1. Core Concept: Systems

a) Identify environmental factors (abiotic and biotic) that affect the distribution of species.

b) Identify various types of interactions among coyotes and other species. 

c) Outline the gut-brain axis and describe how it integrates multiple physiological processes. 

d) Describe how the the gut-brain axis can be influenced by environmental factors. 

e) Construct a conceptual model for how coyote ecological context (urban vs. rural) can lead to changes in animal behaviour and health.

2. Core Competency: Ability to tap into the interdisciplinary nature of science. 

 

This resource consists of the following files, which are available to instructors through the CourseSource publication cited below:

1. Instructor Notes: these are instructor notes, which include answer keys, notes from field testing of the activity, implementation-related notes and options for extending or modifying the activity.

2. Student Handout: this handout includes the case study narrative and associated questions.

3. Answer Key - can be obtained by accessing the CourseSource article cited below.

 

Kleinschmit AJ, Bixler A. 2024. Bacteria to Brains in Backyard Coyotes: An Interdisciplinary Pedagogical Case Study. CourseSource 11. https://doi.org/10.24918/cs.2024.3

 

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