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    When food gets scarce: how plant-pollinator interactions will shift under global change
    In this lesson, students review plant-pollinator interactions and global change concepts. Next, students interpret graphs of pollinator visitation data to Scarlet Gilia. Then, students view and...

    Keywords: mutualismsgraph interpretationCommunity Ecologyplantsfmnglobal changepollinatorsBioGraphIrepresentation in STEM

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    Implementing an online module about plant functional traits in the context of restoration ecology for an undergraduate class in Brazil.
    This resource describes my experience in implementing this OCELOTS module in a Functional Trait-based Restoration class for undergraduate majors in the Forest Sciences Department / Escola Superior...

    Keywords: tropical forestsbiodiversity structureAtlantic forestfunctional traitshybrid ecosystems

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    Student-Generated Analogies for Learning about Information Flow
    Using analogies is a standard practice for both teaching and communicating ideas in science. Here we upend the traditional lesson, where the instructor provides a fully constructed analogy and...

    Keywords: critical thinkingcentral dogmaanalogical reasoning

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    An Interrupted Case Study on Urban Prairie Restoration
    Engaging students in meaningful discussions can be a challenging task for science instructors, especially in introductory courses. The story-telling approach used in case studies can increase...

    Keywords: urban ecologyPrescribed fireEcosystem Servicesecological restorationwoody encroachmentrangeland ecology

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    Exploring Indigenous Viewpoints in the Undergraduate Biology Classroom: An Environmental Case Study Incorporating Hawaiian Traditional Ecological Knowledge
    Changing science education to foster greater equity and inclusion for Indigenous students will require effort from instructors and institutions. Instructors can help by including Traditional...

    Keywords: ecologycase studyenvironmentsystems thinkingTraditional ecological knowledgeindigenous knowledgehawai'idecolonizing scienceNative knowledgeFish ponds

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    Module 4: What Kind of Data Goes in a Field Notebook?
    The goal of this activity is to introduce students to biological field notebooks and how they are used by scientists during field work. Specifically, students will learn what a botanist collecting...

    Keywords: Herbarium digitizationField notebookTimothy Plowman

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    Colorful wings send messages: Why are butterfly wings colorful?
    Red postman butterflies live in tropical rainforests and have a mix of red, yellow, and black on their wings. These bright colors may warn predators or attract mates. Explore whether color alone or...

    Keywords: Quantitative reasoningadaptationpredationfield workEvolution by natural selection and mutation

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    Keep It Shrimple: An Adaptable Student-Driven Research Project for the Introductory Biology Laboratory
    A challenge in introductory biology laboratory courses is to provide students with authentic, engaging research opportunities that allow them to take ownership of their experiments. We present a...

    Keywords: hypothesis testingexperimental designanimal behaviorbrine shrimp

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    Understanding the Importance of Microtubules in Normal Cell Division: Chemotherapy Connection
    In introductory courses, students learn about microtubules as important structures but may not engage in a hands-on experience to localize microtubules themselves or to learn about their connection...

    Keywords: cancerCell DivisionimmunofluorescenceMicrotubulesAntibodies

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    Causes and consequences of resisting herbivory: How long-lived plants avoid damage from diverse short-lived insect herbivores
    This module guides students through decades-long studies of tropical plant-insect interactions to elucidate the ecology and evolution of plant defenses while encouraging students to consider the...
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    Promoting Interleaved and Spaced Practice in Anatomy and Physiology Students
    Students' academic performance in college can be impacted by varying background experiences and skill levels. This article describes a lesson designed for undergraduate Anatomy and Physiology...

    Keywords: Anatomical Terms and DirectionInterleaved PracticeStudy StrategiesSpaced Practice

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    Marsh Madness: Using Video Games and a Case Study to Explore Food Webs and Ecosystem Services in Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve
    As the complexity and interconnectedness of our world increases, we are continually expected to be capable of complex, non-linear thinking in order to successfully tackle and solve the challenges...

    Keywords: food webssystems thinkingGame Based LearningEcosystem Servicessocio-ecological networks

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    Agents of change: Determining effects of pollution on marine environments through data interpretation
    In this lesson, students discuss the effects of disturbance in marine environments with a focus on pollution. They also evaluate the anthropogenic causes and consequences of pollution on a variety...

    Keywords: fishgraph interpretationfmnmarine ecosystemsmarine ecologymicroplastic pollutionEcological Disturbanceintermediate disturbance hypothesisstudent STEM identitypollutionBioGraphIrepresentation in STEMoil spill

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    Exploring Coyote Morphology: Introduction to Research and Study Design
    This module is designed as a first foray for freshman-level (novice undergraduate) students into science literacy, research design, and use of museum resources in research activities. The module...

    Keywords: statisticsnatural history museumsdistance learningscience literacyStudy Designintraspecific variation

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    Observing the Birds of El Paso: Revisiting historical localities online and in the field
    In this set of activities, students are introduced to several features and use cases of museum databases to understand the importance of historical natural history specimens and their data. Using...

    Keywords: databaseBiodiversityOrnithologynatural history museumsspecies distributionsdistance learningField Experiences

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    Introduction to Plant Phenology with Museum Specimens of Desert Prickly Pear (Opuntia phaeacantha)
    Students engage in hands-on exploration of phenology by working with digitized herbarium specimens, particularly focusing on prickly pear specimens from the UTEP herbarium. They learn to identify...

    Keywords: botanyclimate changephenologyherbariumcactus

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    A Momentum-First Approach to Newton’s Second Law
    Students frequently struggle with seeing the connection between forces and motion in introductory physics. This lesson is part of a combined momentum and kinematics unit that first teaches...

    Keywords: group workMomentumNewton's Laws

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

    Keywords: dietanimal behaviorimmune systemmicrobiomeNervous systemgut-brain axisImmunoReachdysbiosisCoyoteCytokines

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

    Keywords: Vision and Changeecologyintroductory biologyImmunologymicrobiologydietanimal behaviormicrobiomecore conceptscoyotesBraingut-brain axisImmunoReachcytokinedysbiosis

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    Ethics in ecological forecasting: four case-based teaching modules
    Working with ecological data often involves ethical considerations, particularly when data are applied to address societal needs. However, data science ethics are rarely included as part of...

    Keywords: data scienceremote sensingethicsuncertaintyecological forecastingindigenous knowledgetropical forestscultural competenceconflicts of interestmarine fisheriesflying foxesfreshwater qualityinequities

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