Adventures in Desktop Ecology

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2016, Volume 37

Jeffrey A. Markert

Abstract

One of the biggest challenges for biologists is to make sure that they are measuring things objectively. For ecologists and animal behaviorists this is especially difficult. In this exercise, we use simple tools (beans, gravel, nail polish, sow bugs or bean beetles, tape, meter sticks, candles, IR thermometers and the Image-J software package) to demonstrate the challenges associated with a) estimating population size, b) determining whether organisms are randomly distributed, clumped, or over-dispersed, and c) determining the thermal and moisture preference of an isopod. The importance of replication, sample size, and objectivity are both demonstrated and emphasized. In the past, we have wrapped up this exercise with a discussion of ‘The Decline Effect' (Lehrer, 2010). This year, we are planning to replace the Lehrer article with a discussion of an interactive article from FiveThirtyEight.com (Aschwanden, 2015).

Keywords:  measurement

Boston University (2015)