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    2015-Boggess-EtAl-Mathematical Modeling in Ecology - Simulating the Reintroduction of the Extinct Passenger Pigeon
    To determine under which conditions a Passenger Pigeon could survive a reintroduction into a natural habitat, we used two types of models.

    Keywords: simulationagent-based modelingallee_effectPassenger Pigeonsforest envirnomentHolling Type III functional responseBio-energeticstree distributions

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    The River Breathes: Stream reach metabolism as an integrative and comparable measure of stream processes
    Stream reach metabolism integrates organism respiration & production to provide a valuable ecosystem measure that varies as a function of biotic & abiotic factors. As a powerful indicator of whole...

    Keywords: ecosystem respirationMetabolismriverRespirationproductionRiver Field Studies NetworkDissolved OxygenStream MetabolismEcosystem ProductionStreamField LessonGuided Student ReflectionStudent Reflection

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    Using Survey123 to Map Physical Habitat Characteristics, Watershed Activities, and Disturbances
    In this lesson, students are introduced to the idea and practice of “remote sensing” and provided with hands-on, field-based experience using standardized stream habitat assessment protocols (the...

    Keywords: GISmappingremote sensingRiver Field Studies Networkriparian habitat assessmentGPSSurvey123National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA)watershed activitieswatershed disturbances

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    Identifying Groundwater Discharge Dynamics into Stream Habitat Assessments
    Groundwater contributions are overlooked in many habitat assessments, even though their ecological and water quality importance to streams has been broadly recognized. This lab encourages students...

    Keywords: landscape ecologyriver systemsRiver Field Studies NetworkGroundwater - Surface Water Exchangegroundwater seepsstream temperature

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    Debating Conservation: Developing Critical Thinking Skills in Introductory Biology Classes
    Role-playing activities in the classroom promote students’ critical thinking, research, and communication skills. We present an activity where students debate a current controversy in...

    Keywords: Restorationtrophic cascadeecosystem function

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    Animal Behaviour Case Study Lessons in Communication, Migration, and Parental Care Using the Jigsaw Approach
    Animal behaviour courses integrate concepts across biological disciplines and are particularly well suited for collaborative, student-focused teaching...

    Keywords: case studycommunicationprimary literatureanimal behaviorjigsawParental CaremigrationAnimal BehaviourProximate mechanisms

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    Integrating Community Ecology Into the Study of Parasites: Exploring the Effect of Host Behavior on Parasite Transmission Rates
    Organismal life cycles are often presented as a set of facts to memorize in undergraduate biology courses. This approach is cognitively demanding for students and fails to convey how central life...

    Keywords: statisticsspecies interactionsQuantitative reasoninggraphsCommunity EcologyParasitologyfood webs

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    Is Earth Currently Undergoing a Sixth Mass Extinction?
    The five Phanerozoic mass extinctions were central in shaping biodiversity on Earth today. Due to increasing biodiversity losses, there is debate about whether we are currently undergoing a sixth...

    Keywords: conservationBiodiversityextinctionMass ExtinctionDeep Time

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    A Modeling Exercise in Sexual Selection using a Student-Created Bird Species
    Evolution-centered lessons at the undergraduate level can often be jargon-heavy, propagate misconceptions if taught ineffectively, and be uninteresting to students who may not see the relevancy of...

    Keywords: Evolutionfitnesssexual selectionNatural Selectionintersexual selectionmate choice

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    The Influence of Exotic Plant Invasion on Pollinator Abundance
    This lesson introduces two global change factors, natural habitat loss and exotic plant invasion, and analyzes how these stressors impact the biodiversity and abundance of pollinator species....

    Keywords: statisticsinvasion biologyecologyRStudioBiodiversityInvasive SpeciesPearson correlation coefficientgeneral linear modelsinvasive plantspollinatorsPopulation abundance

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    Home sweet home for warblers: Graphing and Analysis using R
    This resource expands on the Data Nugget "Trees and bushes, Home Sweet Home for Warblers". The analyses and graphing is done in R and there are questions that ask about the management implications.

    Keywords: graphingCommunity Ecologydata interpretationR software

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    Moths and Frogs and E. coli, Oh My!: Agent-based Modeling of Evolutionary Systems
    In evolution classrooms, introducing and reinforcing the idea of genetic drift and random selection can be challenging, as can be reinforcing appropriate mental models of evolution. Agent-based...

    Keywords: modelingEvolutionecologyagent-based modelingGenetic Driftenvironmental scienceNatural Selectioncompetitive coevolutionsimulation modelingevolutionary reasoning

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    Designing an Asynchronous, Self-Led Aquatic Ecology Field Trip
    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing need to teach students online, aquatic scientists are looking for ways to give students field experiences virtually. Asynchronous, self-led field trips...

    Keywords: observationecosystem structureexploration

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    "Got Algae?" A Sorting Game for Introducing the Weird and Wonderful Diversity of Algae
    Algae are a fascinating and diverse organismal group, with global ecological importance, a storied evolutionary history and deep connections to both contemporary and historical human societies. Yet...

    Keywords: phylogenyBiodiversityphotosynthesisalgaeseaweedmonophyly

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    Student-Driven Design-and-Improve Modules to Explore the Effect of Plant Bioactive Compounds in Three Model Organisms
    Engaging and supporting introductory level students in authentic research experiences during required coursework is challenging. Plant bioactive compounds attract students' natural curiosity as...

    Keywords: statisticsLabCUREInquiryresearch skillscaterpillardaphniadrugsscience process

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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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    How Many Squirrels Are in the Shrubs? A Lesson Plan for Comparing Methods for Population Estimation
    Estimating the population sizes of animals is a key skill for any student interested in ecology, conservation, or management. However, counting animals in natural habitats is difficult, and the...

    Keywords: population ecologywildlife managementpopulation estimationsciuridaeSquirrel-Net

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    Sorry to Eat and Run: A Lesson Plan for Testing Trade-off in Squirrel Behavior Using Giving Up Densities (GUDs)
    All animals need to find and compete for food, shelter, and mates in order to survive and reproduce. They also need to avoid being eaten by predators. Optimal foraging theory provides a framework...

    Keywords: ecologyanimal behaviorAnimal form and functionAnimal nutritionSquirrel-Net

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    An Introduction to the Squirrel-Net Teaching Modules
    Although course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are gaining popularity in biology, most are designed for benchwork-based laboratory courses while few focus on field-based skills....

    Keywords: ecologybehaviortrade-offsScientific ProcessSquirrel-Net

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    Squirrels in Space: Using Radio Telemetry to Explore the Space Use and Movement of Sciurid Rodents
    Biotelemetry is used by researchers to track the interactions of animals with each other and the environment. While advancing technology has led to the development of numerous biotelemetry tools,...

    Keywords: DispersalHabitat selectionHome rangeSquirrel-Net

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