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    A first lesson in mathematical modeling for biologists: Rocs
    Using a fictitious population of Rocs, a mythical species of giant raptor, students accomplish two broad objectives: 1) they undertake the process of building a first mathematical model of a...

    Keywords: population ecologypopulation modelingdiscrete generationpopulation management

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    Navigating Bacterial Changes in Aging Organisms: Graphs, Patterns, and Models
    Aging is an incredibly important area of research, and recent biological advances implicate the intestines in aging pathologies. Given that the gut harbors an immense amount of an organism’s...

    Keywords: statisticsgraphingmathematics for life sciencesmathexponential growthPrecalculus

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    Climate Change Connections
    This module is composed of three related activities that introduce students to climate change's complexity from a conceptual standpoint. In the first activity, students work in small groups to...

    Keywords: interdisciplinaryclimate changeconcept mapping

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    Between a rock and a hard place. What can turning rocks tell us about land-use change impacts on animals living in a rock outcrop?
    Unique rock outcrops in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot in India provide a setting that challenges students to develop a study to assess the impact of land-use change on threatened animals...

    Keywords: conservationagricultureland useamphibianstropicalbiodiversity losslateritic outcropopen natural ecosystemsreptilesrocks

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    A rainforest with a gold chain? The impacts of gold mining on the trophic web of an Amazonian rainforest of SE Peru
    The use of mercury in artisanal gold mining affects aquatic and terrestrial food webs in the Peruvian Amazon. Learn about bioaccumulation, explore data on mercury deposition in vegetation and how...

    Keywords: conservation biologydeforestationhuman healthpollutionbiodiversity losstropical land use

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    Wildlife Crossings in Costa Rica: Are wildlife crossing structures effective in mitigating roadkill mortality on tropical highways?
    Meet Jack Ewing, an ecotourism pioneer in Costa Rica who fought to safeguard wildlife from roadkill mortality caused by enlargement of a major highway. This module presents the topic of road...

    Keywords: Biodiversityconservation biologyland use changeRoad Ecologyecosystem managementfragmentation

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    RAT ATTACK! Population growth
    This module contains exercises focused on the use and interpretation of density independent and density dependent population growth models. Students build logistic and exponential growth models in...

    Keywords: modelingecologyExcelintroductory biologygraphingQuantitative reasoningdata visualizationinterdisciplinaryexponential growthlogistic growthdata managementInterpreting Graphspopulation modelingNIQBC2. Data and GraphsC4. mathematical modelsnonlinear models

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    1994-T_Gruszka-A_Balloon_Experiment_in_the_Classroom
    The experiment consists of dropping a balloon from two different heights and recording the time it takes to hit the floor. The following experiment involves a balloon, a stopwatch, and a...

    Keywords: differential equationsresistancegravityfree fallaccelerationballoon

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    Building Better groups in STEM Courses
    Formation of student groups that can work effectively together is challenging at best. Considerations include group size and formation (assigned or student choice) and how group members will be...

    Keywords: EquityinclusionDiversity in STEM classroomsgroup workdeidiversity equity and inclusionBIOME 2022

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    Drawing flowcharts of lab protocols helps students prepare for biology labs
    With the publishing of the Vision and Change report, we know it is best practice to include authentic research experiences in our undergraduate science lab classes. One big challenge in teaching...

    Keywords: laboratorymolecular biologyUndergraduateprotocolflowchart

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    Introduction to Phylogenetic Trees for Comparative Genomic Analysis
    In this activity, students are introduced to phylogenetic trees and networks as tools for analyzing evolutionary relationships.
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    Why Meiosis Matters: The case of the fatherless snake
    A compelling reason to learn something can make all the difference in students’ motivation to learn it.  Motivation, in turn, is one of the key attitudes that drives learning.  This story...

    Keywords: meiosismitosissex determinationAsexual reproductionParthenogenesis

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    A Kinesthetic Modeling Activity to Teach PCR Fundamentals
    Most molecular biology and biological sciences students understand that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to amplify DNA. However, we have found that some students experience conceptual...

    Keywords: PCR

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    Squirreling from Afar: Adapting Squirrel-Net Modules for Remote Teaching and Learning
    The shift from face-to-face instruction to remote teaching and learning has proven to be a challenging endeavor for many reasons, including lack of time, resources, and inspiration. Lab courses,...

    Keywords: online learningbehavioral ecologyCUREsRemote teachingfield ecologySquirrelSquirrel-Net

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    A Rapid Genetic Screen Using Wisconsin Fast Plants®: A Hands-On Approach to Inheritance of de novo Mutations
    Some concepts in genetics, such as genetic screens, are complex for students to visualize in a classroom and can be cumbersome to undertake in the laboratory. Typically, very large populations are...

    Keywords: mutationInheritancegermlinesomaplant lifecycle

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    The Science Behind Parthenogenesis: Interesting things happen when meiosis goes “wrong”
    Parthenogenetic reproduction is a fascinating, complex topic.  This article accompanies “Why Meiosis Matters: The case of the fatherless snake.” It summarizes the basic information...

    Keywords: meiosismitosissex determinationAsexual reproductionParthenogenesis

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    Using Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in Stream Bioassessment
    Bioassessment is an evaluation of the biological condition of a waterbody using biological surveys and other direct measurements of resident living organisms. Aquatic macroinvertebrates are...

    Keywords: toleranceMacroinvertebratesRiver Field Studies Networkbioindicatorbioassessmentstream health

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    Meiosis: A Play in Three Acts, Starring DNA Sequence
    Meiosis is well known for being a sticky topic that appears repeatedly in biology curricula. We observe that a typical undergraduate biology major cannot correctly identify haploid and diploid...

    Keywords: recombinationmeiosisDNA sequenceCrossingoverchromosome structureHolliday junctionhomology

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    Developing Data Literacy Skills and Connecting the Student Experience in the Classroom to the Community Through Biodiversity Projects
    Undergraduate education and long-term science literacy are enhanced by integrating data projects with public datasets and creating analysis summaries. Underutilized public datasets are often...

    Keywords: species richnessBiodiversitydisturbanceHabitat rangePopulation abundance

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    Exploring Microbial Diversity: An Interactive In-Class Assignment for Biology and Microbiology Courses
    This interactive assignment engages students in a hands-on exploration of microbial diversity and the importance of microbes in ecosystems. Designed for General Biology II and Introduction to...

    Keywords: Microbiology EducationMicrobial DiversitymicrobiologyEcological Society of Americaecology educationresearch-based classroom instruction4DEE Framework

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