ENCOURAGING STUDENT BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH L❙❑LL❙❑L TEACHER-SCIENTIST PARTNERSHIPS Scientists are masters of precision. Teachers are masters at clarity. And students are masters at spontaneity. —Daniel Barstow, 1996. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Founda- tion under Grant Number ESI-9155206. ABOUT SAFETY The safety procedures included with Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in each investigation were written to this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views assist teachers in conducting the Student Research investigations with of the National Science Foundation or the National Association of Biology their students in precollege class- Teachers. rooms. While every effort has been made to anticipate questions and situations that could arise, the safe Published by the National Association of Biology Teachers, 12030 Sunrise implementation of these investi- Valley Drive, Reston Plaza One, Suite 110, Reston, VA 20191. gations must depend on the good judgment of teachers and is the responsibility of the local school ISBN: 0-941212-26-2 district/institution. We suggest that teachers consult state or local safety Copyright 2000 manuals or textbooks for additional information. In some schools, it may be necessary to obtain special per- All rights reserved. Laboratory and classroom exercises contained in this manual mission to do some of these inves- may be reproduced for educational purposes. This manual may not be stored tigations with students, since they involve certain organisms. We in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise copied for any other use with- suggest that teachers check with out written permission of the publishers. Write: National Association of Biol- their principal, science supervisor, scientific research review board, and/ ogy Teachers, 12030 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston Plaza One, Suite 110, Reston, or school board to see what VA 20191. procedures may be required. Illustrations recreated from the work of Philip Longee and Chad Gleason by NABT recognizes the pervasive John Mier of Washington Graphics Services. social phenomenon of litigation with respect to even the most unfounded claims. For that reason, Printed in the United States at Modern Litho-Print Co., Jefferson City, MO. NABT disclaims any legal liability for claims arising from the use of these investigations. This in- formation has been provided to teachers and schools as a service to the profession and we provide this material only on the basis that NABT has no liability with respect to its use. Responsibility for use of any of this information is assumed by the local district/institution. NABT believes that under the guidance of a properly trained and responsible teacher all of the Student Research investigations can be conducted safely in high school classrooms. 2 Student Research Introduction Table of Contents Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................4 Participants in the Student Research Project ...........................................................5 Introducing the Student Research Investigations ....................................................8 • How the Investigations Are Set Up and the Rationale Behind Their Design ...................................8 • Background on the Writing Partnerships Between the High School Teachers and Scientists .............8 • Some Practical Points About Experimental Design and Open-Ended Investigations ......................9 • Safety Issues Involved in Student Research ...........................................................................9 • General Guidelines for Supervising Student Research ...........................................................10 • Where to Find Mentors and the Role They Play in Student Research ........................................14 • Where to Find Student Research Opportunities ...................................................................14 • Modifying These Investigations for Students Who Are Exceptional ...........................................15 • How the Student Research Investigations Address Assessment and Standards ..............................15 Student Research Core Laboratory Investigations with Variations • A Study of Allelopathy in Plants ............................................................................................19 • Biosphere 3—It’s a Small World After All ..............................................................................53 • Tolerance Testing With a Hairless “Guinea Pig” ...................................................................75 • A Community Underfoot: Density and Diversity of Invertebrates in Soil or Ground Cover.....115 • Isolation of Nutritional Mutants of E. coli ...........................................................................147 • Which Way To Grow: Exploring Tropic Responses of Plants ..............................................167 • The Impact of Mollusks on Water Quality ..........................................................................201 • Plant Tissue Culture: Embryo Isolation and Tissue Culture Initiation ...............................237 • A Study of Snail Behavior ....................................................................................................277 • Stressed Out Plants ..............................................................................................................307 • Nature’s Early Warning Systems ...........................................................................................333 Appendices • Appendix A: Writing Format for Student Research ............................................................... 373 • Appendix B: Resources on NABT Web Site ........................................................................ 374 • Appendix C: Standard Microbiological Practices and Aseptic Techniques ............................ 374 • Appendix D: Tips for Conducting Multiple Student Research Activities ............................. 376 • Appendix E: Competitions for Student Research Activities ................................................. 376 • Appendix F: Student Research Evaluation Form.................................................................... 377 Introduction Student Research 3 Acknowledgments The Student Research project has spanned seven years, has had the input of numerous PRINCIPAL individuals, and has been under the management of two principal investigators— INVESTIGATORS Mary Louise Bellamy and Kathy Frame. Mary Louise Bellamy is to be credited with Mary Louise Bellamy the inception and implementation of the Student Research project through the first years. Her vision of creating a mechanism so that students can achieve excellent Kathy Frame student research is reflected in this publication. Without the dedication, hard work, and loyalty of the following individuals, this PROJECT WRITERS project would not have been possible. The Editor would like to recognize and give Michelle Bagley special thanks to John Mier of Washington Graphics Services for agreeing to recreate Navarro Bharat all the artwork at no cost for this publication after it was irretrievably lost on the Brian Bradley computer hard drive and backup files. He has painstakingly recreated each illustration and graph. The debt of gratitude is immeasurable. I also would like to thank my Myrtle Brijbasi husband for the support and love he has provided me during this challenging time Blair Buck and for his understanding of the time that it has taken to complete this project. In Joseph Carter addition, I would like to thank especially the NABT Staff. Danny Cunningham Joyce Dean Margaret DeLacy The NABT Staff Kathy Dunnavant Education Feagin Fuqua Patti Damico, Research Assistant Flo Gullickson Mee Ching Ng, Research Assistant 1998-1999 Lynn Harden Chad Gleason, Research Assistant 1997 Christopher DeLacy, Summer Research Assistant 1997 Melanie Jenkins Kemi Fiator, Research Assistant 1996 Connie Johnson Katherine A. Barnoski, Research Consultant 1995 Roy Kimmins Cheryl Allen, Summer Research Assistant 1994 Ken Kruezer Kathleen Keller, Research Assistant 1993 Cyndi Louden Finance and Administration Paul Lutz Wayne Carley, Executive Director Dean Medley Patricia McWethy, Executive Director 1984-1994 John Meyer Lu Bukovskey, Director of Finance and Administration1975-2000 Roger Newell Eileen Arnold, Grants Financial Administrator Wallace Pickworth Carmen Altamirano, Accounting Assistant 1991-1999 Richard Pointer Louise Pittack, Secretary to the Executive Director Alison Cluster, Receptionist and Publications Fulfillment Clerk 1992-1998 Rosie Pointer Diana H. Reinhard Publications James Saunders Christine Chantry, Director of Publications and Marketing Leslie Seiger Cheryl Merrill, Editor News & Views Kay Acevedo, Publications Assistant Justyn Spencer Peter J. Stallone Membership Domenic Thompson Carlotta Fischetti, Membership Coordinator, 1984-2000 Karen Al-Kinani, Data Entry Membership Clerk Anthony Umelo Lee Williams Conventions and Meetings Lisa Walker, Director of Conventions and Meetings 4 Student Research Introduction Participants in the Student Research Project NABT wishes to thank the following individuals who participated on the Student Research project. The work addresses of the Field Testers and Consultants at the PRIMARY EDITOR time they worked on this project are listed. Where known, the current school and Kathy Frame address of the Writer Teacher-Scientist Partner