biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney
biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney
biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney
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44<br />
URBAN ECOLOGY<br />
AND BIODIVERSITY<br />
EDUCATION<br />
Research Interests<br />
My research focuses on an integration <strong>of</strong> urban ecology,<br />
scientific literacy and biodiversity education. My students work<br />
across a wide range <strong>of</strong> topics, from the ecology <strong>of</strong> urban birds<br />
(parrots, mynas and noisy miners) to the ecological literacy <strong>of</strong><br />
kindergarten children.<br />
We are currently exploring the extent to which resources, such<br />
as food, determine the distribution and abundance <strong>of</strong> birds.<br />
Studies range from tracking spatial and temporal movements <strong>of</strong><br />
cockatoos, investigating the role <strong>of</strong> noisy miners and common<br />
mynas in urban areas, and measuring flowering and seeding<br />
phenology <strong>of</strong> trees in streets, gardens and national parks.<br />
Current projects in biology education use models within the<br />
learning <strong>sciences</strong> and thresholds concepts to investigate how<br />
students, schoolchildren, and the general public understand<br />
difficult <strong>biological</strong> concepts. We measure learning in schools as<br />
children design experiments in virtual 3D environments and in<br />
university as students carry out research projects in biology.<br />
We also analyse communication in social media to quantify the<br />
public understanding <strong>of</strong> <strong>biological</strong> knowledge.<br />
Dr Charlotte<br />
Taylor<br />
Room 313, Heydon-<br />
Laurence Building A08<br />
T: (02) 9351 5788<br />
E: charlotte.taylor@<br />
sydney.edu.au<br />
Honours projects<br />
1. Urban biodiversity and resource availability. We are currently interested in aggressive<br />
interactions amongst bird populations in urban areas, in particular those involving Noisy miners,<br />
Common mynas and various parrot species. We are also investigating the impact <strong>of</strong> limitations in<br />
resources for bird populations, with a focus on nectar and seed sources.<br />
2. Learning difficult concepts and Biology literacy. We continue to use the Thresholds<br />
Concepts paradigm to explore the ways in which undergraduate students, school children and<br />
members <strong>of</strong> the general public understand or misunderstand key <strong>biological</strong> concepts. Projects<br />
may focus on concepts associated with understanding the complexity <strong>of</strong> processes such as<br />
climate change and human impact on the environment, as well as the concepts underpinning the<br />
processes <strong>of</strong> hypothesis testing and experimentation.