Ecology+and+Evolution+Labs

5. Ecology and evolution - 5.1 Communities and ecosystems - 5.2 The greenhouse effect - 5.3 Populations - 5.4 Evolution - 5.5 Classification - Ecology and Evolution Labs

Measuring the effect of heavy usage on the quality and coverage of grass is easy to do on the school field and uses similar techniques to those on the fieldtrip
 * Fieldtrip alternatives**


 * The greenhouse effect **

Analysing evidence for global warming is a database activity based upon ideas in [|David Mindorff's ICT in IB Biology]


 * Population Labs**

Using quadrats is a key technique for measuring population density here are some guidelines for using quadrats from SAPs

[|A good protocol for using haemocytometers from Colorado State University]
 * %* Coming soon - lab protocols for measuring population growth in yeast and duckweed

There are good simulated labs for examining population growth including:

This [|mark and recapture simulation] from Biology Corner can be used to help teach this technique for estimating animal populations. N.B. there is no supporting theory or maths provided.

[|Growth as a function of temperature] from the virtual laboratory at Colorado University

and this one from [|i-Biology.net] media type="custom" key="13862928"


 * Natural Selection**

A good virtual lab looking at selecion pressure and their affect on an animal is [|Pheromones Affect Sexual Selection in Cockroaches]

The HHMI lab on Stickleback evolution allows students to collect and analyse data on evolution

[|Sexual selection] is the subject of this paper and flash based simulation from PBS

There are many good activities to simulate selection, here are just a few:
 * [|Using newpaper (Biology corner)]
 * Simple [|Peppered moth simulation] from Fort Bend ISD - good realistic graphics show selection from a bird's eye view
 * [|Peppered moth simulation including tutorial] from techapps
 * Modelling adaption to feeding - a fun quick discussion promoter
 * [|'Grabbers' simulation] from Biology in motion - good link back to the genetics included here
 * [|Wolves and bunnies simulation] by PhET


 * Extras**

//If in Europe you can take part in this, it's a real research project. Additionally this website can also be used as a database activity.//