Japanese Journal of Biological Education
Online ISSN : 2434-1916
Print ISSN : 0287-119X
RESEARCH NOTE
The embryogenesis of White Cloud Mountain minnow (Tanichthys albonubes) and practical research on its observation for elementary school science classes
Heiwa MukoSeiya OkuboYoriko NakamuraMasahiro HizumeSadao Sakamoto
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2018 Volume 60 Issue 1 Pages 2-7

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Abstract

In elementary school science textbooks for fifth-grade students, the study unit “animal birth” has an activity to observe the embryogenesis of medaka (Oryzias latipes). Since it takes about 9 days from fertilization for medaka eggs to hatch, we focused on an easier-to-breed species, the White Cloud Mountain minnow (Tanichthys albonubes), in which embryogenesis proceeds in a short period to satisfy the learning contents for the rearing of fish and the observation of early development. In this study, we investigated the methods for breeding, spawning, and collecting embryos in order to evaluate the applicability of the White Cloud as supplementary teaching material. We also observed the early development from eggs and examined the elapsed time for each stage to develop. In addition, we bred the White Cloud minnows, collected eggs with elementary school children using an egg tank in an aquarium, and then implemented the observation of embryogenesis in the fifth-grade science class at the elementary school of Ehime University Faculty of Education. The White Cloud embryos were transparent and the development after the shield phase proceeded faster than that of medaka. Judging from the reactions of the students during the breeding and the lessons, we evaluated the White Cloud minnow as better able to attract and keep students’ attentions. Therefore, we suggest that the White Cloud minnow is useful as supplementary teaching material for observation of embryogenesis, as it is easy to rear, its various developmental stages can be observed in a short period, and it attracts the interest of elementary school children.

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© 2018 The Society of Biological Science Education of Japan
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