https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClWFTzSFZFFsN7ZcNbIyo2w
We set up this channel in 2022. Check out videos sharing our field work, scientific talks, and stop-motion animations!
Our lab has recently started using AppSheet to build our own apps for data collection. Currently, Dr. Lotterhos has been offering more comprehensive workshops and is working on a book. You can find public examples of her apps at: https://www.appsheet.com/portfolio/6377443
Link to Multivariate Selection in R Shiny App
This app uses oyster disease and salinity tolerance as an example for understanding how multiple traits evolve in response to multiple stressors. The app presents several cases for students (e.g. given different selection pressures and genetic architectures, how will disease and salinity tolerance evolve?) as well as two challenges (e.g. given the observed trait evolution, what kind of genetic architectures could have led to this pattern?). Students learn from feedback and get a green light if they find the correct solution. This work was developed with support from the National Science Foundation.
These apps have been developed by population geneticists around the world for understanding and teaching population genetics. Link to the list
This activity is for undergraduate and graduate students who are learning population and conservation genetics.
F-statistics convey important information about the genetic structure of populations. But what do they mean? This learning module teaches F-statistics in a backwards way than normally taught. Instead of giving students data and having them calculate the F-statistics, we give students the F-statistics and challenge them to build the populations that would have those statistics.
Link to Instructor slides and solutions
This work was developed with support from the National Science Foundation.
This workshop includes an oyster dissection and introduces students to shellfish, their unique biology, and their challenges to survival in diverse marine environments. All the teaching materials are available at:
https://drk-lo.github.io/lotterhoslabprotocols/outreach_oysterworkshop.html
Press: https://news.northeastern.edu/2024/03/08/marine-science-symposium-2024/
This work was developed with support from the National Science Foundation.
We are grateful for funding from the National Science Foundation for this workshop. The girls learn about evolutionary research at the Marine Science Center, and get hands-on training with pipetting, DNA extraction, and coding.
All our lesson plans are available for teachers at this website, including:
This work was developed with support from the National Science Foundation.
Episode 68: Can you predict which animals will survive environmental change?
In this episode, Dr. Lotterhos talks about ocean acidification, evolutionary adaptation to complex environments, genetic variation, and natural selection.
See if you can complete the Lego Selection Challenge (see the website and listen to the podcast for more information)! This challenge introduces students to concepts on measuring traits on real species and figuring out how different environments select on those traits. It's harder than it sounds!
Dr. Lotterhos created a shell matching game for preschoolers based on shells found around Nahant beaches. You can print the cards to play a memory game, or go to the beach to try to find the real shells! This would be a great game to play at any beach in New England. Click on the image on the left to download.
Learning with your child:
Q: Did you know all these animals make their own shells? A: Snails, most crabs, lobsters, oysters, clams, and many more all make their own shells. One animal that doesn't make its own shell is the hermit crab, it's a shell recycler! It recycles the shells that snails make.
(Show them a picture of a skeleton). We have bones inside our body. A shell is like our bones, but it is outside the animals body. Q: Do you know why they might want their shell on the outside? A: For protection! From predators, waves, the sun, etc.
Q: What can we drink for strong bones? A: Milk! Milk has calcium, which makes our bones strong. These animals use calcium from the seawater to make their shells strong too.