Laboratory Measures of Filtration by Freshwater Mussels: An Activity to Introduce Biology Students to an Increasingly Threatened Group of Organisms

Autor/inn/en	Smith, Michael J.; Shaffer, Julie J.; Koupal, Keith D.; Hoback, W. Wyatt
Titel	Laboratory Measures of Filtration by Freshwater Mussels: An Activity to Introduce Biology Students to an Increasingly Threatened Group of Organisms
Quelle	In: Bioscene: Journal of College Biology Teaching, 38 (2012) 2, S.10-15 (6 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1539-2422
Schlagwörter	Biodiversity; Laboratories; Biology; College Students; Higher Education; Science Education; Science Instruction; Water; Water Quality; Ecology; Experiments; Marine Biology; North America; United States + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Biodiversität; Laboratory; Laboratorium; Biologie; Collegestudent; Hochschulbildung; Hochschulsystem; Hochschulwesen; Naturwissenschaftliche Bildung; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Wasser; Wasserqualität; Ökologie; Erprobung; Meeresbiologie; Nordamerika; USA
Abstract	Many aquatic organisms survive by filter feeding from the surrounding water and capturing food particles. We developed a laboratory exercise that allows students to measure the effects of filtering by fresh water mussels on water turbidity. Mussels were acquired from Wards Scientific and exposed to a solution of baker's yeast. Over a period of one to two hours, students measured changes in water clarity using miniature Secchi discs. The exercise has been used in a freshwater biology class at a state university. This exercise allows students to make hypotheses, gather data, and explore interactions between living organisms and their environment. Many North American species of freshwater mussels are threatened or endangered because of habitat changes and the introduction of exotic mussels. Therefore, students are also able to examine the potential effects of biodiversity loss in aquatic environments. (Contains 1 table and 5 figures.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Association of College and Biology Educators. Web site: http://acube.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10