Resources: Compare
#429, v1.0
#507, v1.0.0
Title
| Old Version | New Version | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Food Chain Dynamics In A Simple Ecosystem | 1 | Population dynamics in simple two-species experimental microcosms |
Authors
| Old Version | New Version | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. Phil Gibson (University of Oklahoma) | 1 | J. Phil Gibson (University of Oklahoma) |
| 2 | Deborah Rook () | 2 | Christopher T. Ivey () |
| 3 | Christopher T. Ivey () | ||
Description
| Old Version | New Version | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | <p>Food webs and trophic dynamics are important biological topics that explain community interactions, ecosystem energetics, and other ecological phenomena. Interactions among organisms in different trophic levels is a particularly important factor shaping the structure and function of communities and ecosystems. To investigate the interactions between producers and consumers, you will construct a simple ecosystem containing an algal producer and a crustacean herbivore and observe what happens over the course of a two-week period in this simple food chain. In this experiment, you will use an experimental design developed by Hudon and Finnerty (2013), but in a “flipped” format. You should first view the assigned videos that describe the fundamental features of the experimental procedure. Make notes about experimental design to investigate bottom-up or top-down effects in a simple ecosystem composed of a single producer and consumer species.</p> | 1 | <p>This two-week exercise modified from Gibson (2018) and Hudson and Finnerty (2013) emphasizes how trophic interactions and other density-dependent phenomena may alter population growth or decline. In a "flipped" format, students are assigned videos and homework to introduce techniques and calculations required for class. Student groups establish replicated microcosms of known densities of <em>Platymonas </em>and brine shrimp and predict the impact of trophic interactions on final densities of each species. During the second week, groups evaluate predictions using statistical tests, and summarize findings.</p> |
| 2 | |||
| 3 | <p>The producer is a unicellular, marine alga in the genus (<em>Platymonas</em> sp.). This species has a flagellum which allows it to swim through its aquatic environment. The consumer is <em>Artemia salina</em> (brine shrimp), a crustacean related to crabs and lobsters. They hatch from cysts and are easily grown in lab. The larva, called a <em>naupilus</em>, are active swimmers and develop into the mature adult form in a few days. The mature adults are grazers that feed on algae.</p> | ||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | <p>Hudon, D. and J.R. Finnerty. 2013. To build an ecosystem: an introductory lab for environmental science and biology students. The American Biology Teacher 75:186-192.</p> | ||
Attachments
| 1 | file — Food Chain Dynamics In A Simple Ecosystem | 1 | file — ./BrineShrimp Culturing Tips.pdf |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | file — Excel Algae Concentration Calculations | 2 | file — ./Platymonas Culturing Tips.pdf |
| 3 | file — Excel Anova for Algae Comparisons | 3 | file — ./Trophic Chains - Homework.pdf |
| 4 | file — Algae Ecosystem Hypothesis Worksheet | 4 | file — ./Trophic Chains - Week 1.pdf |
| 5 | file — Teaching Notes | 5 | file — ./Trophic Chains - Week 2.pdf |
| 6 | file — Excel T-test for Aglae Jars | 6 | file — ./TrophicChains - Notes for Lab Instructors Week 1.pdf |
| 7 | file — ./TrophicChains - Notes for Lab Instructors Week 2.pdf | ||
| 8 | file — ./IMG_20180329_093026677.jpg | ||
| 9 | file — ./IMG_20180410_114950584.jpg | ||
| 10 | file — ./IMG_20180410_115129243.jpg | ||
| 11 | file — ./IMG_20180412_143927560_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg |