Development and Practice of Educational Program using Ants as Learning Materials to Raise Public Awareness of Biodiversity in Familiar Environments

Abstract

  To raise public awareness of the importance of biological diversity, providing opportunities for children and people to learn biodiversity in familiar environments are required. Ants are one of the most common insects that can be found in various environments and are rich in species. Therefore, it is possible to be effectively use them as a learning material to realize biodiversity in familiar environments. In this study, first, ant fauna was surveyed at 50 familiar green spaces in Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture in 2012 and 2013. Collection was carried out using simple manual hand collection within each green space for 30 minutes per green space. As a result of the survey, the average number of species collected per green space was 10.0 species, and species compositions in 50 green spaces were clearly related to the environmental conditions. Secondly, events were carried out to provide a hands-on educational program using the above collection method for children and adults. Questionnaires given to the participants revealed that impressions of biological diversity in the green spaces surveyed were changed by the experiences gained through the program. This indicates that the educational program using surveys of ants at familiar green spaces is effective for raising public awareness of biodiversity in familiar environments.