FIELD ECOLOGY. Biology 418 (Ecology Lab)

Course meeting times: Tuesday 8:50-9:40, TH 8:50-12:55.

Dr. Randy Mitchell Instructor. 177 ASEC

Office hours T/W 11-12.

Email: rjm2_at_uakron_dot_edu.

Office Phone: 330-972-5122.

Cell phone (for field-trip-related use only, please) 330-962-3761

  

Text:  Kircher, John C, G. Morrison. 1988. A Field Guide to Eastern Forests. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Co. NY.

Each student should also have a dedicated field notebook. I suggest something like the 4 x 7" 'Rite in the Rain" notebooks available in the bookstore – they are weather-resistant and fit nicely in a pocket or bag.

 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE All activities subject to change.

Week	Topic
Aug 30	Introduction Project 1 – How many trees in the forest?
Sept 6	Project 2 – Nectar
Sept 13	Project 2, start Project 3
Sept 20	Project 3 - Thermal biology
Sept 27	Project 3
Oct 4	Present Project 3, Prep Project 4
Oct 11	Project 4- Bird Mobbing
Oct 18	Finish Project 4 Potential non-BNP Field Trip
Oct 25	Project 5-TBA
Nov 1	Project 5
Nov 8	Project 6- Forest succession
Nov 15	Project 6 Potential non-BNP Field Trip
Nov 22	Finish project 6 – no school Thursday (Thanksgiving)
Nov 29	Project 7 –TBA or non-BNP field trip
Dec 6	Finish project 7 or Presentations, individual project work, Non-BNP Field Trip
Dec 15	Final Exam period 10:11:55

Course Description: Introduction to the methodology of modern ecology, and to the natural history of Ohio’s ecological communities. In this course you will learn to identify many common Ohio plants and animals, learn about their ecological roles and requirements, and will design and conduct experiments and observations to better understand their ecology. This course emphasizes fieldwork and hands-on experience, which should make it an enjoyable and informative experience.

Prerequisite: General Ecology.

More information at www.uakron.edu/biology/mitchell/ecologylab/.

 

Scoring (this tentative scheme may be adjusted as the course progresses):

Item	% of Grade
Attend, participate, and contribute to the group effort on all projects	35
Write up one of the course exercises as a full scientific paper OR poster	20
Conduct an independent research project (individual or small group) and summarize it with a poster, paper, or brief talk	20
Complete several individual exercises (e.g. first week’s assignment, experimental design assignments, sight ID quiz to common genera and groups and to ecological and natural history knowledge during non-experimental field trips)	15
Generate field notes (as described in the handout) for at least four separate field trips.	10
Provide a natural history summary for at least one plant, one vertebrate, and one invertebrate	5

 

Attendance and participation will be scored as follows:

0: Not present, no excuse

1: Present but NOT attentive, helpful, engaged

2: Ok: Present, attentive, helpful, engaged

3: Wow! Present, attentive, helpful, engaged, makes special contributions to the project (ideas, insight, leadership, extra effort, etc.)

 

If you will be absent, please let the instructor (me) know ahead of time. This lets me plan better, and will help your score (up to a reasonable limit, you will not be penalized for missing classes if you notify me ahead of time).

 

Extra credit is available for attending field-biology seminars. Speak with me about this.

 

 

FIELD TRIPS

For your safety and comfort, it is important that you are properly dressed and prepared for our field trips.  We may get hot, cold, wet, muddy, or dirty, so dress accordingly.

Getting wet. On some days we may wade through water, get rained on, or encounter lots of tall grass covered with dew. I'll warn you ahead of time if possible, so that you may bring rubber boots, or even water shoes, and have a change of clothes ready. You are welcome to stash a set of field clothes in the lab or at the field station (see me about how to do so securely) so that your good clothes won’t be ruined, and so that you don’t have to traipse around campus in dirty field clothes, even when we don't get really wet.

 

Safety. We will spend a lot of time outdoors in nature, which can provide surprises. We will not do anything more dangerous than you would during a normal hiking trip. If you are an experienced hiker, you are probably well prepared for this. If you are not an experienced hiker, please contact the instructor and we will go over a few safety tips.

Other notes: Many find that alcohol wipes can be useful to ease encounters with Poison Ivy.

 

You will need to decide for yourself what you’ll need with you in the field. Some general suggestions and possibilities include:

·       Long pants

·       Boots or shoes

·       Hat

·       Sunscreen

·       Mosquito repellent

·       Pack

·       Coat/ rainshell / umbrella

·       Rain pants

·       Medications (e.g., epi pen for those allergic to bee stings, allergy medication…)

·       Water

·       Field notebook and pencils

·       Clipboard

·       Binoculars

·       Field Guide(s)

·       Sealable plastic bags (for specimens, data sheets, etc.)

·       Camera (your own, or we have cameras available for checkout)

·       GPS receiver

·       Cell Phone

·       First aid

·       Permits or other documents

·       Gear specific to the project (e.g., tape measures, insect net, etc.)