Crayfish shelter-seeking behavior as an experimental system to teach experimental design and research skills to undergraduate biology students.

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Title: Crayfish shelter-seeking behavior as an experimental system to teach experimental design and research skills to undergraduate biology students.
Authors: Davis, Johnathan G.1 davisjg@wofford.edu, Atwell, Amelia1, Baker, Stefanie1, Carroll, Kelli1, Crook, Matthew1, Cruz, Lori1
Source: Bioscene. Dec2025, Vol. 51, p13-20. 8p.
Subject Terms: *Experimental design, *Research skills, *Biology education, *Student projects, Crayfish, Animal behavior, Habitat selection
Abstract: During the 2023 - 2024 academic year, a research system based upon the study of crayfish shelter-seeking behavior was developed to facilitate an authentic research experience in a new course for second-year students focused on practicing scientific skills related to evaluating primary literature, designing and conducting experiments, analyzing results, and communicating research findings. Crayfish were utilized due to their availability from local streams and biological supply companies, hardiness and low mortality in aquaria, and their use as experimental models in studies of genetics, neuroscience, and animal behavior. Students evaluated shelter-seeking behavior in response to manipulations of shelter types, substrates, artificial light, and other variables. Crayfish were held in 10-gallon aquaria, provided with shelters, and tested in experimental arenas that students manipulated based upon their research hypothesis. More than 100 students conducted research across six course sections, developing more than 20 unique projects. Students reported results in both written and oral formats, describing substrate and shelter preferences under lab conditions that closely mimic their natural habitats and possible effects of artificial light at night on nocturnal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Bioscene is the property of Association of College & University Biology Educators and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Crayfish shelter-seeking behavior as an experimental system to teach experimental design and research skills to undergraduate biology students.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Davis%2C+Johnathan+G%2E%22">Davis, Johnathan G.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> davisjg@wofford.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Atwell%2C+Amelia%22">Atwell, Amelia</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Baker%2C+Stefanie%22">Baker, Stefanie</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Carroll%2C+Kelli%22">Carroll, Kelli</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Crook%2C+Matthew%22">Crook, Matthew</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cruz%2C+Lori%22">Cruz, Lori</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Bioscene%22">Bioscene</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 51, p13-20. 8p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experimental+design%22">Experimental design</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+skills%22">Research skills</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biology+education%22">Biology education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+projects%22">Student projects</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Crayfish%22">Crayfish</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Animal+behavior%22">Animal behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Habitat+selection%22">Habitat selection</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: During the 2023 - 2024 academic year, a research system based upon the study of crayfish shelter-seeking behavior was developed to facilitate an authentic research experience in a new course for second-year students focused on practicing scientific skills related to evaluating primary literature, designing and conducting experiments, analyzing results, and communicating research findings. Crayfish were utilized due to their availability from local streams and biological supply companies, hardiness and low mortality in aquaria, and their use as experimental models in studies of genetics, neuroscience, and animal behavior. Students evaluated shelter-seeking behavior in response to manipulations of shelter types, substrates, artificial light, and other variables. Crayfish were held in 10-gallon aquaria, provided with shelters, and tested in experimental arenas that students manipulated based upon their research hypothesis. More than 100 students conducted research across six course sections, developing more than 20 unique projects. Students reported results in both written and oral formats, describing substrate and shelter preferences under lab conditions that closely mimic their natural habitats and possible effects of artificial light at night on nocturnal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Bioscene is the property of Association of College & University Biology Educators and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Experimental design
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biology education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student projects
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Crayfish
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Animal behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Habitat selection
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      – TitleFull: Crayfish shelter-seeking behavior as an experimental system to teach experimental design and research skills to undergraduate biology students.
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              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
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              Y: 2025
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