Brian Darby and Brett Goodwin, University of North Dakota
Using pathway maps to link concepts, peer review, primary literature searches, and data
assessment in large enrollment classes: an example from teaching ecosystem ecology
1) In groups of two, draw a "cause-and-effect" pathway map to connect the seven terms below.
Use arrows with "+" and "-" signs to denote increases and decreases. This pathway map may
not necessarily be linear, and each term may, or may not, link with more than one other term.
Light
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Predators
CO2
Plant Biomass
Herbivores
2) Trade your pathway map with a neighboring group, and circle one link (or one missing link)
that you think deserves explanation, either because it is an interesting link that you didn't think
of, or are unsure about, or because you think it may not exist as the other group drew it. Use a
different colored pen or pencil if possible, and return this pathway map to its original creators.
Brian Darby and Brett Goodwin, University of North Dakota
Using pathway maps to link concepts, peer review, primary literature searches, and data
assessment in large enrollment classes: an example from teaching ecosystem ecology
3) Use the space below to explain your link (or its absence) and what you believe to be the
correct linkages between the relevant terms. This can be either an explanation of why you
believe that your original links are correct, or it can be an explanation of a revised pathway
map. Then, either:
a) describe an experiment you would perform to test whether or not your updated link is
correct, or
b) find a published, primary research article that does test for this link, and describe what the
researchers found.