Journal Assignments Course project developed by Andrea Bierema, Michigan State University. Materials accessed from https://bierema.wordpress.com/sample-materials/. Grant instructions adapted from Animal Behavior Society’s Student Research Grant. http://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-student-grants.php

Journal Assignment #1 Every student has now selected a trait that may have an adaptive value. Which species (or genus) and which trait are you interested in researching? What do you think is the adaptive value of the trait? Describe a possible function of the trait. Then explain why you think it might be the function of the trait (in other words, what is the evidence supporting your prediction?). Objective: Based on trait(s) observed in the field, develop hypotheses for which ecological factor(s) imposed selection on that trait resulting in adaptive evolution. Course project developed by Andrea Bierema, Michigan State University. Materials accessed from https://bierema.wordpress.com/sample-materials/. Grant instructions adapted from Animal Behavior Society’s Student Research Grant. http://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-student-grants.php

Journal Assignment #2 Milestone Assignment #1 is due next class period Write your name and the name of your species and trait on your assignment. Think back to the habitat that your species was in when you found it. What was the habitat like? Do you think all individuals of that species live in a similar habitat? Do the individuals live in the same habitat all year long? Based on the characteristics of the species, what do you think they typically eat? Where does the species typically fit in a food web? Who may be its competitors? Write a reflection on the possible niche of your selected species. A description of a niche may include a description of the habitat/environment characteristics, resources (including food) that the species needs, and how the species may interact with other species. Objective: Predict a species’ niche based on habitat and characteristics. Course project developed by Andrea Bierema, Michigan State University. Materials accessed from https://bierema.wordpress.com/sample-materials/. Grant instructions adapted from Animal Behavior Society’s Student Research Grant. http://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-student-grants.php

Journal Assignment #3 Today, we learned about how geology and climate influence biodiversity. How do you think your selected species was/is/will be impacted by past/current/future climate change? Will the selected trait still be advantageous in a future climate? Objective: Predict how a change in climate will impact a species. Course project developed by Andrea Bierema, Michigan State University. Materials accessed from https://bierema.wordpress.com/sample-materials/. Grant instructions adapted from Animal Behavior Society’s Student Research Grant. http://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-student-grants.php

Journal Assignment #4 Milestone Assignment #2 is due next class period Where does your selected species “fit” in a food web? Remember that food webs are complex and contain many possible chains. Where does your species fall within a food web? First draw a potential food web (include producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and decomposers/detrivores). Use at least 10 types of organisms in your food web (you can consider species, orders, etc.)- refer to your first milestone assignment for some possible species. Then select one type of organism that is indirectly impacted by your species (i.e., it does not eat and is not eaten by your species). Explain how the population size of that organism would be influenced if your species’ population increased in size. Keep in mind that explanations are more than increase/decrease answers. Objectives: -Model the flow of energy through a food web (primary producers to top predators). -Develop hypotheses about the impacts of top-down trophic cascades. Course project developed by Andrea Bierema, Michigan State University. Materials accessed from https://bierema.wordpress.com/sample-materials/. Grant instructions adapted from Animal Behavior Society’s Student Research Grant. http://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-student-grants.php

Journal Assignment #5 Today, we have learned about various types of species interactions, including competition, mutualism, predation, parasitism, and herbivory. How do you think your selected trait is used or impacted by interactions with other species? Select one type of species interactions (i.e., competition, mutualism, predation (including prey defenses), herbivory, and communalism) and explain how the selected trait is used or impacted during one of these types of interactions. In your explanation, include potential species involved in the interactions. In the spirit of using these assignments to prepare for the final project, you are encouraged to journal about additional species interactions. Objective: -Predict in novel examples if characteristics of natural populations are due to interspecific interactions. Course project developed by Andrea Bierema, Michigan State University. Materials accessed from https://bierema.wordpress.com/sample-materials/. Grant instructions adapted from Animal Behavior Society’s Student Research Grant. http://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-student-grants.php

Journal Assignment #6 During class, we learned about the importance of dispersal and different ways that organisms disperse. How do you think your species disperses and how far do you think it might be able to disperse? What are some biotic and abiotic factors that impact dispersal? Explain potential ways and reasons for dispersal of your selected species and then explain how the selected trait may be used in dispersal. If you believe that the trait is not possibly used in dispersal, then explain why. Objectives: -Model potential dispersal mechanisms based on phenotypic characteristics. -Predict ecological consequences of dispersal patterns on a community. Milestone Assignment #3 is due next class period Bring two copies to class (we will do a peer review activity that is worth participation credit only ) Course project developed by Andrea Bierema, Michigan State University. Materials accessed from https://bierema.wordpress.com/sample-materials/. Grant instructions adapted from Animal Behavior Society’s Student Research Grant. http://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-student-grants.php

Journal Assignment #7 During class, we learned about different examples of intraspecific competition. In what ways and for what reasons do you think individuals of your selected species undergo intraspecific competition? Explain three possible reasons why intraspecific competition occurs in your selected species. Then predict how either the trait that you selected is used in intraspecific competition or how it is impacted by intraspecific competition. Objective: Predict how individuals of a species may undergo intraspecific competition. Course project developed by Andrea Bierema, Michigan State University. Materials accessed from https://bierema.wordpress.com/sample-materials/. Grant instructions adapted from Animal Behavior Society’s Student Research Grant. http://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-student-grants.php

Journal Assignment #8 Look through the feedback that you received from your peer. What are the major points that the reviewer provided? Write a summary of the feedback provided. In your summary, explain how you feel about the feedback received and what actions you plan to take to improve your final proposal. Objectives: -Provide constructive feedback on your peers’ papers. -Create a protocol and predictions for an observational or experimental study to explore ecological questions. Course project developed by Andrea Bierema, Michigan State University. Materials accessed from https://bierema.wordpress.com/sample-materials/. Grant instructions adapted from Animal Behavior Society’s Student Research Grant. http://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-student-grants.php

Journal Assignment #9 Now that the final project is complete, reflect back on the process of writing a research proposal. Which aspects were easy and which were challenging? Which aspects occurred as expected and which were surprising? How did the assignments help or hinder your final proposal? Now that class is almost done, what do you plan on doing with your proposal? Write a reflection addressing these questions. Objective: Create a protocol and predictions for an observational or experimental study to explore ecological questions. Course project developed by Andrea Bierema, Michigan State University. Materials accessed from https://bierema.wordpress.com/sample-materials/. Grant instructions adapted from Animal Behavior Society’s Student Research Grant. http://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/awards-student-grants.php