ERIC Number: EJ1257722
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9266
EISSN: N/A
EcoPred: An Educational Individual Based Model to Explain Biological Control, a Case Study within an Arable Land
Journal of Biological Education, v54 n3 p271-286 2020
Individual based models (IBMs) are up-to-date tools both in research and educational areas. Here we introduce an IBM built on NetLogo platform that simulates a top-down trophic cascade controlled by the pressure exerted by two model predators (web-building spiders and ground runner spiders) on a model pest (the olive fruit fly) within a hypothetical agricultural landscape (the olive crop). EcoPred is an IBM that aims to be an educational tool that can help teachers to explain concepts related to ecology in a modern, enjoyable and comprehensive way. EcoPred reflects the changes on a fly population within a simulated olive crop according to (1) the mortality rate caused by the predation of two spider species and energy loss, (2) the energy gain by feeding on flowers and (3) the reproduction rate in olive trees. The model was tested with 26 students achieving very good results in terms of acceptance and interest on the learning method. EcoPred can be used for educational purposes with 16 year old students and older to explain ecological concepts such as trophic level, species interactions, limiting factor and biological control in an interactive way simultaneously introducing students to biology oriented programming languages.
Descriptors: Biology, Models, Science Instruction, Teaching Methods, Computer Software, Agricultural Production, Entomology, Ecology, Computer Simulation, Forestry, Energy, Plants (Botany), Secondary School Students, Programming Languages, Student Attitudes, Student Interests, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Portugal
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A