http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ A search of MERLOT materials Copyright 1997-2013 MERLOT. All rights reserved. Sat, 18 May 2013 17:41:18 PDT Sat, 18 May 2013 17:41:18 PDT http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/images/merlot.gif http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ 44 34 http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=88008 WOW lessons are designed for infusion into the existing science curriculums for college freshmen and advanced high school students. The lessons use the aquatic environment and real lake data to explore basic science concepts through two different approaches: a directed study (״Studying״) and an inquiry (״Investigating״) approach. The directed studies allow students to apply and learn concepts through direct, guided experience. The inquiry lessons provide a more open-ended opportunity for students to discover the same concepts. This module was selected as the 2005 Classics Award Winner of the Biology Discipline because it allows students to analyze real environmental data collected in several lakes over long periods of time. In addition the site provides sound pedagogical tools to help the students apply basic scientific concepts to analyze and understand the data. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=84001 An introduction to toxic chemicals and environmental health risks you might encounter in everyday life, in everyday places. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=78375 Short descriptions of terrestrial biomes. Each description contains general characteristics and organisms found in that biome. The site contains two interactive games for students using the data and graphs provided within the site. The site is part of NASA's Earth Observatory project. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=90780 Woods simulates growth and competition among three species of trees of the northeastern United States. The user may manipulate various growth and reproductive parameters and then oserve the effects on the community. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=78379 THis website is part of a larger "Volcano World" website http://volcano.oregonstate.edu that provides a wide range of multimedia and information about volcanoes across the world. This site describes the environment surrounding Mount St. Helens before and after the volcanic eruption in 1980. This is an excellent illustration of ecological succession. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=83567 Students will: 1) complete interactive explorations of density-dependence and carrying capacity, the difference between r (realized intrinsic rate of increase or per capita, growth rate), rmax, (maximum intrinsic rate of increase and dN/dt (population growth rate), how growth rate changes over time while r decreases; and 2) summarize and compare properties of exponential and logistic growth. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=78373 This site is a well designed study on the various terrestrial, freshwater, and marine biomes of the world. Each biome has a separate set of pages that address geographic locations, characteristics, types of organisms found, a galery of images, and links to other sites concerned with that biome. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=78382 This is a comprehensive resource site on global warming maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It includes basic information on climate and greenhouse gases as well as predictions and actions that can be taken to counteract predicted trends. There is also a "Visitor's Center" organized by interest groups--educators, meteorologists, etc. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=79954 The Aid Game is about giving charitable aid to developing countries. These countries may suffer the dual challenges of high mortality from hunger and disease, and even higher birthrates, leading to ever greater demands on their natural resources, and more hunger, in a vicious cycle. In the Aid Game, you explore alternative aid packages, to see which kinds of aid work best, and why http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=83565 This simulation/tutorial consists of three topics. In topic 1, students conduct a study of a zebra mussel population in a fictitious lake and present their findings during a virtual teleconference. Students will: 1) review qualitative descriptions of growth curves for the exponential and logistic models, selecting one to test at the lake; 2) collect and plot data, and determine which of the models the data fits; 3) answer questions about populations at other localities by calculating rmax, t, and N using their data. In topic 2, students review the math and biology behind the logistic growth model with the help of a fish population. Students will: 1) complete interactive explorations of density-dependence and carrying capacity, the difference between r (realized intrinsic rate of increase or per capita, growth rate), rmax, (maximum intrinsic rate of increase and dN/dt (population growth rate), how growth rate changes over time while r decreases; and 2) summarize and compare properties of exponential and logistic growth. In topic 3, students follow the growth of the Kruger National Park elephant population from 1903-1996. While following the history of the population, students calculate values using the logistic equation. Students will complete a case study in which they: 1) learn the biological and sociopolitical history of the KNP elephants; 2) calculate dN/dt, N, and 1-(N/K) over time; 3) explain how assumptions of logistic growth affect the shape of the curve; and 4) evaluate how well the KNP population fits the logistic model.