In this lab, students use field sampling techniques to determine occurrence of herbivory and fungal diseases using non-destructive, random sampling of leaves from various trees. They also record observations about any organism on or around the tree and learn to characterize tree-to-species interactions. This lab may be used in various formats of instruction: in-person ? hybrid ?asynchronous online and can vary in duration. The overall goal is to provide students with time to explore their natural world and use ecological field sampling techniques. The main learning objectives of the lab are as follows: (1) analyze leaves, stems, and trunks, of various tree species, (2) evaluate the frequency of herbivory and fungus occurrence in various tree species by using basic leaf sampling techniques, (3) characterize the tree as an ecosystem by observing patterns in and around various tree species, and (4) record, represent, and communicate findings (including photographing specimens). We use this ecological study in our hybrid introductory biology lab. We assign it as a semester-long project that is incorporated into one of our online lab units. Students meet three benchmarks throughout the semester that include individual and group work online and in the field. The final project is an oral presentation that students create collaboratively using presentation software. We pair this lab unit with the Predation, Herbivory, and Parasitism module from SimBiotic Software for added practice and background. Students also access project benchmarks, lab instructions, and background materials on our lab website. The project promotes scientific thinking as students work to organize, analyze, and synthesize all their individual data to find trends and make connections with issues associated with herbivory, including climate change.
Keywords: field sampling, trees, fungi, leaf, herbivory, ecology
University of Manitoba (2025)
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
