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Demystifying ecological modeling: A hands-on activity to acquaint students with modeling ecosystem responses to natural and anthropogenic disturbances

Published Article

Global

Publication date: August 1, 2025

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Ecological systems are increasingly shaped by climate‑driven and land‑use disturbances, yet predicting ecosystem responses remains challenging. This study presents a hands‑on ecological modeling activity designed for college‑level courses to strengthen student understanding of ecosystem dynamics, disturbance impacts and model‑based reasoning. The activity promotes critical thinking, increases modeling literacy and confidence, and supports instructors seeking to integrate modeling into ecology curricula. By lowering barriers to adoption, this approach helps students better grasp how ecological systems respond to stressors and encourages proactive, model‑informed management perspectives.

Subject Tags

  • Life Sciences

Abstract

The world’s ecological systems face a myriad of challenges, including disturbances associated with climate change and changes in land use. While it is known that these disturbances have increased in frequency and intensity, an understanding of the totality of their impact, or the ability to predict ecosystem response is still a work in progress. Ecological modeling can be a great tool to help achieve ecological learning objects in college-level courses, and form the foundation for a better understanding and proactive management of ecological systems. We present a hands-on ecological modeling activity that aims to foster critical thinking about the dynamism of ecological systems and their response to stressors, increase modeling literacy and confidence among students, and empower instructors to integrate modeling in their ecological course content. We hope that this activity will serve as a complementary tool in the teaching and learning of ecological systems and their response to disturbances, and contribute to a reduction in the barriers to successful adoption and integration of ecological modeling in program curricula in academic institutions.

Citation

Nyamai, P. A., Swaty, R., & Dettenmaier, M. (2025). Demystifying Ecological Modeling: A Hands-On Activity to Acquaint Students with Modeling Ecosystem Responses to Natural and Anthropogenic Disturbances. The American Biology Teacher, 87(6), 347-353. https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2025.87.6.347

TNC Authors