Investigating Heat Exchange in Ecosystems with Bottle Biology

Logistics often limit the number of field-based labs that include different types of ecosystems. Moreover, few lab classes allow students the opportunity to measure ecosystem-level changes. This article describes an activity appropriate for high school biology or introductory collegiate biology courses, where bottle biology can provide an opportunity for students to measure differences in temperature and humidity that result with different types of vegetation. This approach allows students to develop an understanding of how ecosystems transfer energy and cycle water, as well as the implications of land use change, such as timber harvest or grassland restoration, on regional climate.