WildCam Lab: Inquiry and Data Analysis Using Trail Camera Data from Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

 

Rosina H. Bolen, Javier Robalino, & Bridget Conneely

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2018, Volume 39

Abstract

Researchers in Gorongosa National Park (GNP) in Mozambique are using trail cameras to document the recovery of the park’s wildlife after a decades-long civil war decimated many animal populations. Using WildCam, an online interactive platform, citizen scientists can identify species in trail camera photos to help researchers document their distribution. We present an inquiry-based laboratory exercise that enables students to use WildCam data to propose and test their own hypotheses while developing data analysis and graphing skills using Excel. We implemented this exercise in a first-year undergraduate introductory biology course for majors. Students gained experience mining and manipulating large data sets, discussed the benefits and limitations of using trail camera data to test ecological questions, and were exposed to authentic citizen science.

Keywords:  Inquiry-based learning, trail camera data, Gorongosa National Park, Excel data analysis, WildCam

University of Wisconsin, Madison (2017)