UNIT III:  ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY (Where are they?)

Objectives

Learning Activities

(C=Class; L=Lab; O=Outside class; CH=chat)

Outcomes (Products)

(CN=Compendium Notebook; W=Wiki; AM=Adopt-a-Microbe; LN=Lab notebook);

A.  Analyze significance of Plasmodium—malaria protozoan—case study

 

1.  Case study overview (C)

1. Case study synthesis in (CN)

2.  Review case web site links (O)

2. Significance of case study (CN)

3.  Read relevant text sections (C,O)

     Reading on malaria in 20th century U.S.

3, Critical analysis of reading (W)

B.  Relate case study to:

   -types of microbial niches

   -ecological relationships

     of microbes

1.  Presentations on microbe environments, ecological relationships of microbes (C)

1, 2. Group concept maps—environments of microbes, ecological relationships of microbes (W)

 

2. Return to JPL labs case study from environmental perspective (O)

3. Review relevant text chapters/reading

     -Text chapters 9, 11, 12, 26 (O)

     -“Jointed Threads: Leidy and Anthrax”

3. Summary of types of bacterial environments and ecological relationships (CN)

C, Look at examples of environments and ecological relationships

1.      Brainstorm on utility of microbes (C)

1.  Classification scheme for human-microbe relationships (W)

 

2.  What does it mean to be pathogenic?

     --classroom presentation

     --special reading

2.  Classification scheme for types of ecological relationships and pathogenesis (CN)

D. Lab experiments

--identify different types of bacteria

--effects of environmental conditions on bacteria

--role of microbes in food production

1.      Characterizing microbes in microenvironment (handout)

1, 2, 3.  Organized write-up of experiment with group data and analysis (LN)

2.      Staining and Endospores

--Lab Modules 23, 24, 25 (L)

3.      Effects of U-V, Antiseptics and Carbohydrate Fermentation

--Lab Modules 30, 31, 34 (L)

 

4.      Bacterial in Milk and Microbes in Food Production

--Lab Modules 42, 44 (L—unit 4)

E.  Show how understanding of environments and ecological relationships apply to adopted microbe

1.      Internet Research on environment of pet microbe (O, CH)

1, 2,  Website includes text information and graphics on environment and ecological relationships of pet microbe (AM)

2.      Post research results to pet microbe website (O,CH)