Bean beetles, Callosobruchus maculatus, as a model system for inquiry-based laboratories in ecology

Background/Question/Methods

The value of inquiry-based undergraduate laboratory instruction has become increasingly clear. None-the-less, open-ended laboratory exercises are used infrequently.  We have found that the bean beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, model system is a very flexible, simple, and extremely effective means of teaching in undergraduate laboratory courses in ecology.  C. maculatus is extremely easy to manipulate and maintain and has a very rapid life cycle.  Extensive past and present research on C. maculatus provides opportunities for connections between undergraduate laboratory studies and research.  Our website (www.beanbeetles.org) provides resources for faculty interested in using bean beetles in their courses.  The materials include fully-developed experimental protocols that have been tested in introductory biology and upper-level ecology courses.
Results/Conclusions

Surveys of students suggest that they consider these exercises very important in increasing their understanding of the scientific method.  Furthermore, using a pre-test/post-test, we have found that students in some semesters do indeed show an increase in their understanding of experimental design after completing one of these experiments.