Suggests an approach and methodology for analyzing field and laboratory populations. Describes an experiment using mustard to show how competition and inequality can be assessed. Discusses the variables responsible for determining the abundance of organisms. (CW)

Presents the results of a survey to identify and categorize the major difficulties perceived by teachers in their teaching of ecology. Difficulties included teacher training, syllabus difficulties, and teacher approach. Suggests how these difficulties might be overcome. (CW)

Describes a five year research project in plant ecology by successive teams of students. The aim was to identify environmental factors which were determining the distribution of the vegetation on a pitheap. Includes descriptions of vegetation, soil properties, and computer assisted analysis of results. (Author/CW)

Outlines an adaptive framework for the study of plants and their pollinators in which both partners in the ecological relationship are seen as maximizing fitness through efficient use of the other as a resource. Suggests experimental projects to examine the validity of these assumptions giving an evolutionary emphasis. (Author/CW)

Describes the content, structure, development, and educational use of an advanced interactive videodisc for teaching ecology. Discusses how the disc enables students to visit a real place and move around in time and space to investigate, sample, analyze, and test possible ideas within the environment. (CW)

Presents information that gives a methodological background to the concept of food webs. Stresses the importance of calibrated techniques in ecological research and explains direct methods for studying animal diets. Exercises for gathering first-hand data on bird diets and analyzing secondary data on mammal diets are suggested. (ML)

Reviews methods of estimating pollen and seed dispersals and discusses the extent and frequency of gene exchange within and between populations. Offers suggestions for designing exercises suitable for estimating dispersal distances in natural plant populations. (ML)

Highlights the educational potential of the local environment for field teaching in both junior and secondary high schools. Describes a project which focused on the development and utilization of nearby ecological study areas. Reviews this projects' goals, activities, and future plans. (ML)

Compares and contrasts a historical approach to woodland studies with a conventional ecological approach. Suggests potential sources of information and areas for investigation for the historical ecologist. Also reviews a case study example that employed this strategy. (ML)

Discusses the use of leaf mines (formed by larvae of small moths or flies) and galls (wasps' larvae) in various insect population studies. Also considers the advantages of using these structures for instructional purposes. (DH)

Describes an interactive simulation model which can be used to demonstrate population growth with discrete or overlapping populations and the effects of random, constant, or density-dependent mortality. The program listing (for Commodore PET 4032 microcomputer) is included. (Author/DH)

Describes a series of short-term modular experiments which focus on community structure (standing crop biomass) and function (system energy flow). One exercise examines decomposers while another shows energy use by individuals. Equipment needed, procedures used, and results obtained are included. (Author/DH)

Proposes that biology classes spend more time studying living organisms in the field. Advantages and problems of fieldwork in towns are discussed and suggestions are made to help teachers ensure that classes obtain maximum benefit from their outdoor studies. Instructional strategies and a short list of useful texts are included. (Author/JN)

Describes equipment for recording human breathing (stethographs, tambors, spirometers), construction of pooters (pipettes), field exercise on examining epiphyte distribution on tree bark, and vertebrate skeleton models for teaching locomotion. Includes abstract of student research project examining pH on Colpoda encystment and reviews of…

The use of mobiles to illustrate a number of basic principles in ecology teaching is rewarding, particularly with less able students, and an attractive end-product to decorate the biology laboratory. Suggestions for constructing the mobiles and a diagram of a sample mobile are provided. (Author/JN)