Problems/Case Studies
"Mom
Always
Liked You Best: Examining the Hypothesis of Parental
Favoritism". Clyde F. Herreid, University at
This case study is based on a journal article on the parenting
behavior of American coots. Working through the case, students
develop hypotheses and design experiments to test their hypotheses
as they are given pieces of the case in an interrupted case
format. A "prologue" to the case describes the interrupted case
format in detail.
The subject matter of the case
makes it suitable for courses in biology, especially those
focusing on evolution and ecology, and the case can be used with
both science majors and non-science majors.
CNN Video Clips
"Seahorse Pregnancy": Biology 7th Ed. CNN Ed 2003
(2:36)
In seahorses, offspring develop inside the male's body.
Seahorses are monogamous, and some species mate for life.
Daily courtship rituals reinforce the pair bond. During
mating, the female deposits eggs into the male's abdomen.
The eggs contain all the nutrition required to fuel
development. Once the young are born, there is no additional
parental care. (Student worksheet provided on CD)
"Sexy Singers": Biology 7th Ed. CNN Ed 2003 (1:56)
Male sparrows are highly territorial. Bruce Nowicki of
Hyperlink Examples
"Flying
Casanovas" This website contains many
interesting activities about bowerbirds and the depths that
the males go to in order to attract a female. There is a short
video, and a article on courtships. There is a game for
students to play and a link about the art of the bowerbirds,
because when the bowers where first discovered it was thought
that they were built by pygmies. The website also contains
teacher resources.