Ecological Field Methods

Catalog description

Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Ecology (BIOL UA-63) (may be taken concurrently). Students learn the skills needed to design and implement field experiments, interpret data and present ecological research. While investigating real habitats (forests, salt marshes, urban landscapes), students perform biological surveys and measure abiotic parameters. Ecological techniques are nested within questions in biodiversity and community structure, invasion biology, urban ecology, habitat alteration and climate change. During approximately half of the lectures, class meets at off-campus field sites. Students should not schedule meetings or classes either directly before or after class time.