Stoichiometry of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum: a long-term ecological field-based curriculum for biology undergraduates

土壤-植物-大气连续体的化学计量：生物学本科生的长期生态领域课程

• 批准号: 0737386
• 负责人: Jose-Luis Machado
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: Swarthmore College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-06-01 至 2012-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0737386&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Stoichiometry; soil; plant; atmosphere; continuum

Biological Sciences (61). Within the discipline of ecology, the study of populations, communities, and ecosystems presents unique difficulties for biology instructors seeking to provide undergraduates with independent or collaborative research opportunities. Investigations in these areas typically require long-term or large field studies and training in multiple disciplines. This project is enriching the ecology curriculum at a small private college by establishing a long-term field study in ecological stoichiometry in which undergraduates can engage in authentic research at all levels of instruction, from freshman to senior year. The field study is being implemented across a three-course ecology curriculum that includes an introductory team-taught survey course, an intermediate level ecology course, and an advanced independent research seminar. Students investigate the balance of multiple chemical elements and their influence on distribution and productivity of plant populations, community structure, and ecosystem functions and services. Teachers and students work side-by-side as co-researchers, investigating open-ended questions. By characterizing species-specific elemental composition and elemental movement in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, students are contributing novel and detailed data, enabling improvements in the quantification of carbon and nutrient budgets. The project is establishing a framework for integrating biogeochemical research into undergraduate courses and undergraduate research projects in ecology. Student learning is focusing on application of the scientific method through collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of publishable data using state-of-the-art techniques and equipment typically limited to research universities. Students are presenting their findings at intra-college symposia and regional and national meetings. Course materials and data developed in this project are being disseminated through scientific and education meetings, journals, and NSF-sponsored dissemination projects such us Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology (TIEE) and Faculty Institutes for Reforming Science Teaching (FIRST III). Assessment includes examining the impact of the project on student retention in the science disciplines, particularly underrepresented students.

生物科学（61）。在生态学的学科范围内，对种群、群落和生态系统的研究，对于寻求为本科生提供独立或合作研究机会的生物学讲师来说，呈现出独特的困难。这些领域的调查通常需要长期或大规模的实地研究和多学科的培训。本项目通过建立生态化学计量学的长期实地研究，丰富了一所小型私立学院的生态学课程，本科生可以在从大一到大四的各个教学阶段进行真实的研究。实地研究是在三门生态学课程中实施的，其中包括一门小组讲授的入门调查课程，一门中级生态学课程和一门高级独立研究研讨会。学生研究多种化学元素的平衡及其对植物种群、群落结构、生态系统功能和服务的分布和生产力的影响。老师和学生作为共同研究人员并肩工作，调查开放式问题。通过描述土壤-植物-大气连续体中特定物种的元素组成和元素运动，学生们提供了新颖而详细的数据，从而改善了碳和养分预算的量化。该项目正在建立一个将生物地球化学研究纳入生态学本科课程和本科研究项目的框架。学生的学习侧重于科学方法的应用，通过使用通常仅限于研究型大学的最先进的技术和设备，收集、分析、解释和展示可发表的数据。学生们在学院内部研讨会、地区和国家会议上展示他们的研究结果。本项目开发的课程材料和数据正在通过科学和教育会议、期刊和美国国家科学基金会赞助的传播项目（如生态学教学问题和实验（TIEE）和科学教学改革学院（FIRST III））传播。评估包括审查该项目对理科学生留存率的影响，特别是对代表性不足的学生的影响。