BIOL 475 Ecological Field Methods FALL
2009
Instructor: Dr. Kimberly Russell Office:
431 Colton Hall
Website: http://web.njit.edu/~krussell
Ecological studies require the qualitative and quantitative
characterization of plant and animal populations and the communities and
ecosystems they form. Although some modern ecologists spend most of their days
in front of a computer screen, the discipline relies on data collected in the
field including observations & measurements, species surveys and
experimental manipulations. This field-oriented class will examine and
characterize animal and plant communities using a
sampling of modern ecological methods. In addition to becoming familiar with
basic techniques, students will learn how to use these methods to ask relevant
questions and test ecological principles. Students will not only collect
data but also analyze them and report the results in written and oral format.
Due to weather constraints, roughly the first half of the
semester will be devoted to the collection of field data and the second half to
the processing and analysis of these data in the lab.
GRADES
5 Quizzes (5 points each)
2 Formal lab reports (50 points each)
7 Lab Data Sheets (10 points each)
1 Oral Presentation (30 points)
1 Final Exam (75 points)
1. Karban, R. and M. Huntzinger. 2006. How to do Ecology.
Princeton University Press.
2.
(Optional). Pechenik,
Jan A. 2006. A Short Guide to Writing about Biology. Sixth Edition.
Additional Readings:
Labs will be posted on the course website no later than Tuesday. Students are
required to read the posted lab description prior to attending class. Quizzes
will be given at random to ensure students come to class prepared.
|
Day |
Date |
Topic |
Assignments |
|
F |
4-Sep |
Species
Distribution in Space: Campus Weeds |
Data
sheets due Wednesdays |
|
F |
11-Sep |
Pollination
Ecology: Liberty State Park |
Karban
& Huntzinger Ch. 1 |
|
F |
18-Sep |
Marine
Biology: Animal Communities in Sandy Hook |
Karban
& Huntzinger Ch. 2 |
|
F |
25-Sep |
Bee
Distribution & Abundance in an Urban Garden |
Karban
& Huntzinger Ch. 3 |
|
Sat |
26-Sep |
2009
Saw Mill River BioBlitz |
|
|
F |
2-Oct |
Estimating
Populations Sizes: Mark-recapture in an Old Field |
Karban
& Huntzinger Ch. 4 |
|
F |
9-Oct |
Quantifying
the Effects of Disturbance: Deer Exclosures in Morristown National Historical
Park |
Karban
& Huntzinger Ch. 5 |
|
F |
16-Oct |
Optimal
Foraging Behavior: Squirrels in campus versus natural settings |
Karban
& Huntzinger Ch. 6 |
|
F |
23-Oct |
Human
Demography and Lichen Succcession: Graveyard trip! |
Karban
& Huntzinger Ch. 7 |
|
F |
30-Oct |
Group
analysis and presentation of Pollination Lab |
|
|
F |
6-Nov |
Data collation/Analysis:
In Lab |
|
|
F |
13-Nov |
Data
collation/Analysis: In Lab |
Rough
Draft 1 due |
|
F |
20-Nov |
Data
collation/Analysis: In Lab |
|
|
F |
25-Nov |
Student
presentations |
Rough
Draft 2 due |
|
F |
27-Nov |
Thanksgiving
(no class) |
|
|
F |
4-Dec |
Review |
Final
Paper 1 due |
|
|
|
**Final
Exam |
Final
Paper 2 due |
|
|
|
*rain
day 1: Optimal Foraging |
|
|
|
|
*rain
day 2: Behavioral Observations (video) |
|
**The final exam WILL be held during the regular final exam
period. DO NOT make arrangements to leave town prior to this, as taking the
exam early will NOT be an option.
Attendance. All
field trips are mandatory! In case of an emergency, notify me prior to the
trip. BE ON TIME TO LAB. If you are not there when the van leaves, you will be
counted as absent. Please dress appropriately. In the absence of thunder, we
will go out in the rain. Wear long pants & socks – some of these
places will have ticks. Bring water!
Make up exams, quizzes and late assignments. Make up exams and quizzes will be possible only with
a doctorÕs or a deanÕs letter or with prior approval. If you have a serious
reason for missing an exam, you must call me BEFORE the scheduled exam period
to notify me that you cannot take the exam. You are then responsible for
arranging with me to make up the test or quiz within two days. Late assignments will be accepted, but
penalized 10% of the points available for each 24-hour interval that they are
late. E-mailed assignments will be accepted, but at your own risk – i.e.,
if the file I receive is corrupted or unreadable, it will be counted as late.
Academic dishonesty. I
will have zero tolerance for academic dishonesty, including plagiarism or
cheating. Instances of dishonesty will be punished by a zero on the assignment
and consultation with the office of the Dean of Students to determine if
further action is required.
Office hours. I will
be in my office in Colton during office hours (unless otherwise noted) and will
be happy to meet with students who have questions or concerns. I am happy to
answer questions via e-mail during these times. However, if you e-mail me
outside of these times, I cannot guarantee how quickly I will be able to
respond. Please be patient and you will get a response.