Acorn Foraging as a Means to Explore Human Energetics and Forge Connections to Local Forests

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In this article an unusual ecology laboratory/field exercise is described in which students imagine themselves as a group of indigenous woodland people attempting to gather food stores that will carry them through the winter. In doing so, they grapple with issues of human energetics, foraging strategy, carrying capacity, and experimental design.

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Primary or BEN resource type	Laboratory exercise
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Format	pdf
Ecological Core Concept	The science of ecology -- Scientific method and experimental design The science of ecology Individuals -- Behavior Individuals
Drought & Water-Ecosystem Services Collection	Off
Conservation Targets Under Global Change Collection	Off
Big Data Collection	Off
Editor's Choice	No
Audience	Undergraduate upper division 15-16 Undergraduate lower division 13-14
Pedagogical Use Description	This laboratory exercise examines human energetics, foraging strategy, carrying capacity, and experimental design. In addition, students will gain experience manipulating data and making calculations. The exercise also offers opportunities for students to relate other disciplines to their science course.
Keywords	foraging; social behavior; human energetics; carrying capacity; foraging strategy; experimental design; indigenous people, ecology 101
Key taxa	human; Homo sapiens; oak
Life science discipline (subject)	Ecology
Primary Author Controlled Name	Pamela Lockwood Jeffrey J. Gerwing Christopher Uhl
Primary Author Affiliation	Pennsylvania State University
Primary Author email	jgerwing@pdx.edu
Rights	Ecological Society of America's copyright restrictions
Resource Editor	Unknown
Reviewer A	Unknown
Reviewer B	Unknown
Date Of Record Submission	2002-02-08

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Resource Comments

Subject: Acorn Foraging as a Means to Explore Human Energetics and Forge Connections to Local Forests

Posted By: cbeck

Date Posted: 2010-02-22 16:37:03

perhaps more appropriate for lower-level students than upper-level students