ERIC Number: EJ1236863
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Jun
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1857-6036
EISSN: N/A
In the Canopy with Tardigrades, Herbivory and Wheelchairs: Engaging Mobility-Limited Students in Field Biology
Miller, W. R.; Lowman, M. D.; McCord, E., Jr.; Tripp, R. L.; Glenny, D. A.; Volpini, A. T.
European Journal of Educational Sciences, v1 n2 p1-11 Jun 2014
We conducted research to quantify tardigrade (water bear) density, diversity, and distribution in temperate forest canopies, and to promote opportunity for undergraduates with mobility limitations as field researchers. This ecology project was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program to explore canopy biodiversity and herbivory in a temperate deciduous forest, with a special focus on tardigrade fauna. The program confirmation that a wheelchair is not a limitation to field biology since canopy research involves vertical not horizontaltransects. Mobility-limited students with equal mental and visual capabilities ascended into the canopy, collected samples, used microscopes, identified new species, and wrote professional papers.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Science Instruction, Physical Disabilities, Access to Education, Biology, Outdoor Education, Ecology, Biodiversity, Students with Disabilities, Natural Resources, Science Experiments
European Scientific Institute. International Relation Office, St. 203, No.1, 2300 Kocani, Republic of Macedonia. e-mail: contat@ejes.eu; Web site: http://ejes.eu/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Kansas
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1156550