The wolf is back! Revisiting the concept of the ecological niche to predict the viability of the wolf population with elementary students

This study examines the development of the concept of the ecological niche among 10-11-year-old students and their ability to use this concept to give their opinions on the socially relevant and controversial possibility that wolf populations might be established in the mountains surrounding the school. A total of 21 elementary school students were engaged in an authentic school inquiry project about the wolf during which they undertook a series of diverse activities, such as searching for information about the wolf's biology, field work and modelling activities in order to perform a habitat suitability analysis. Starting with a Qualitative Content Analysis approach, a mixed method approach was applied to analyse students' drawn and written productions about (a) the wolf's survival requirements; and (b) the viability of its establishment in the region. Results show how the complexity and the sophistication of the ecological niche concept improve, and how the consideration of biotic, abiotic and anthropic factors change during instruction. Difficulties encountered by students in using such a concept in a new context are also highlighted. Implications for education are considered.