Investigative Ecology: Long-term Field Experiments in Undergraduate Labs

生物科学（61）这个项目正在开发一个新的长期实验场地，它将成为东卡罗莱纳大学（ECU）本科生生态学的重点。生物学专业要求的生态学实验室建立在一系列过时的“烹饪书”实验和实地考察的基础上，缺乏研究性学习的机会。我们正在开发一门对ECU所有生物学学生都具有相关性和价值的课程，他们中的大多数人将从事健康或生物技术方面的职业。我们正在模仿南伊利诺伊大学的一个成功项目，并利用ECU最近在校园附近获得的600英亩土地。该项目有三个教育目标：1)加强生态概念的学习；2)教授数据管理和分析技能；3)促进对生态原则的理解，使学生成为未来的公民。这些地点说明了只有在很长时间尺度上才能观察到的群落生态学的重要过程。有价值的长期数据集的积累将为学生探索数据管理和解释工具提供丰富的机会。我们正在与学生们一起展示和发布数据，并为该项目开发一个全国可访问的网站（链接到欧空局网站）。一旦网站建立，我们将鼓励其他ECU教师，其他北卡罗来纳大学和当地K-12学校参与该项目。

Biological Sciences (61)This project is developing a new long-term experimental site that will serve as a focus for undergraduate ecology at East Carolina University (ECU). The ecology laboratory required for biology majors has been based on a series of outdated "cookbook" experiments and field trips, and lacked opportunities for investigative learning. We are developing a course that has relevance and value for all biology students at ECU, the majority of whom will pursue careers in health or biotechnology. We are modeling our project after a successful project at Southern Illinois University, and taking advantage of ECU's recent acquisition of 600 acres of land near campus. The project has three educational objectives: 1) to enhance learning of ecologicalconcepts; 2) to teach skills in data management and analysis; and 3) to promote an understanding of ecological principles that will inform students as future citizens. The sites illustrate important processes in community ecology that can be observed only on a long time scale. The accumulation of a valuable long-term data set will provide a wealth of opportunities for students to explore tools for data management and interpretation. We are working with the students to present and publish the data, and develop a nationally accessible website for the project (linked to the ESA website). Once the sites are established, we will encourage other ECU faculty, other North Carolina universities, and local K-12 schools to participate in the project.