A flexible, multi-week approach to plant biology - How will plants respond to higher levels of CO2?

• DOI: 10.24918/cs.2018.13
• Publication Date: 2018-11-12T15:28:21Z
• Authors: Vanessa Muilenburg; Katherine Supanich; Stephen Scogin; Thomas Bultman; Jianhua Li; Lori Hertel; Kathy Winnett-Murray
• Keywords: Brassica rapa

To help introductory biology students understand how plants will respond to higher levels of CO₂, we have created a multi-week module consisting series four related laboratory lessons. These lessons allow make connections among morphological, physiological, and growth responses <em>Brassica rapa</em> (Fast Plants&reg;)<em> </em>to low (400 ppm) high (800 concentrations atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂). Elevated CO₂ was chosen as an environmentally relevant variable interest our they consider the environment their futures. However, this is easily adaptable test other plant species and/or variables (<em>e.g., </em>light, nutrients, soil contaminants, genotypes, biotic factors, etc.), depending on instructor/student interests available facilities/equipment. Within modular framework, analyze stomatal densities, photosynthetic respiratory rates, foliar protein concentrations, growth/allocation patterns. Progressive, weekly analysis <em>B. rapa </em>responses allows apply findings predictions about in subsequent After all are measured, framework facilitates student synthesis describe interconnectedness measured processes reflect these contribute &quot;how CO₂.&quot;