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These lab exercises were designed to enhance students’ understanding of the concept of chemical competition in ecology. They use the moss Sphagnum to illustrate the concept, which shows students that competition occurs between plants. Many of the traditional examples show competition as a physical battle between animals. By using the chemical alteration of the environment by Sphagnum, a teacher can also review the concept of pH, in a biological framework. As a result, the lab can be used in either an ecology unit or a chemistry unit, within a biology course. The lab was designed for 10th to 12th grade classrooms.
Associated files
Format
Primary or BEN resource type
Secondary resource type
General Biology Core Concepts
Discipline Specific Core Concepts
General Biology Competencies
Life science discipline (subject)
Keywords pH, moss, Sphagnum, ecology
Key taxa bryophyte, moss, Sphagnum
Audience
Intended End User Role
Language
Educational Language
Pedagogical Use Category
Pedagogical Use Description This lab exercise uses the moss Sphagnum to examine chemical competition in plant ecology.

These lab exercises were designed to enhance students’ understanding of the concept of chemical
competition in ecology. They use the moss Sphagnum to illustrate the concept, which shows students
that competition occurs between plants. Many of the traditional examples show competition as a
physical battle between animals. By using the chemical alteration of the environment by Sphagnum, a
teacher can also review the concept of pH, in a biological framework. As a result, the lab can be used in
either an ecology unit or a chemistry unit, within a biology course. The lab was designed for 10th to 12th
grade classrooms.

At the end of the activity students will be able to operate a pH meter, create a graph using student collected data, and interpret their results.
Aggregation Level
Structure
Full Name of Primary Author Jon Swanson
Primary Author Controlled Name
Primary Author Affiliation Edwin O. Smith High School
Primary Author email jswanson@eosmith.org
Secondary Author Name(s) Jessica M. Budke, Bernard Goffinet
Secondary Author Affiliation(s) University of Connecticut
Secondary Author Email(s) jessica.m.budke@gmail.com, bernard.goffinet@uconn.edu
Added By Id
  • jessicabudke
Submitter Name Jessica M. Budke
Submitter Email jessica.m.budke@gmail.com
Rights Dr. Bernard Goffinet
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
University of Connecticut
License
Publisher
Review type
Drought and Water Ecosystem Services Collection Off
Conservation Targets Under Global Change Collection Off
Big Data Collection Off
Editors Choice No
Resource Status
Date Of Record Submission 2014-07-27
I Agree to EcoEdDL's Copyright Policy & Terms of Use No
Date Of Record Release 2014-10-14 09:29:20
Last Modified By Id
  • tmourad
Date Last Modified 2014-10-14 09:29:20
Release Flag Published

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