This project will provide 12 undergraduate faculty with hands-on experience in three areas of ecology: 1) experimental assessment of pollinator responses to amino acids in nectars, 2) telemetric monitoring in ecology, and 3) control of nitrogen fixation in aquatic microorganisms. Participants will be given appropriate reading materials and laboratory methods devised by the project directors. Methods of instruction will include lectures and discussions but will primarily depend on field and laboratory work with the project directors. Associated with the studies in these areas, participants will learn to devise hypotheses, conduct experiments, and analyze and present the resulting data. They will use computers for data analysis and presentation and will learn to make 35 mm slides for oral presentations. Finally, they will develop laboratory exercises for their own courses and may be able to initiate new undergraduate research projects with their own students. After using and evaluating at least one of the laboratory exercises in a course, they will share their results with the other members of the group. In addition to the NSF funds, participants' institutions will contribute about 15% in travel costs, and the grantee institution will contribute about 10% in additional operating costs.
