Clear writing skills are also emphasized, as the students write up debate evaluations which are critically graded for content, form and style. This is an experiential field methods course. Students work as teams collecting field data to test hypotheses about forest habitats. Students will learn new methods and field skills in local parks and forests, then prepare scientific reports that incorporate statistical analysis to be presented in a class symposium. This is an experiential field methods course.
Students work in teams collecting field data to test hypotheses about aquatic habitats.
Students will learn new methods and field skills in localcreeks, lakes, and wetlands, then prepare scientific reports that incorporate statistical analysis to be presented in a class symposium. The effects of human perturbation on aquatic systems will be highlighted in both lectures and laboratory work to aid student understanding of the concepts involved. Students will learn to apply basic limnological principles to diagnose lake and watershed problems, to understand lake response to population, to identify appropriate management solutions, and to predict lake response to management. This course first reviews taxonomy, vertebrate biology, and population ecology, then introduces the student top variety of conflicts concerning fisheries and wildlife. Cases examine endangered species, over harvesting, maximum sustained yield, habitat evaluation, and recreational use.