Fall 2005 - Fall 2009

Ecologists investigate the workings of the natural world, and most would agree that what makes ecology most exciting is direct involvement with the organisms and their habitat, by making first-hand observations. A course in field ecology offers students the opportunity to observe nature directly rather than through descriptions in books.

In this course we will visit both terrestrial and aquatic habitats, including chaparral, oak woodland, dunes, salt marsh, and intertidal, to make observations, and conduct experiments. We will learn how to design and carry-out studies in field ecology, by learning how to identify patterns in nature, how to ask questions and develop hypotheses, how to collect and analyze data, and how to use library resources. The goal of the course is to train students to design their own research projects to be conducted in Winter quarter. Although it may be taken on its own for credit, this course is intended to be taken for two quarters (Fall - Winter). The first/Fall quarter will focus on introduction to experiments, as described above; during the second/Winter quarter, students will focus on their independent research developed by the end of Fall quarter.

The course consists of one 3-hour lab/field trip per week, plus a one hour discussion.

Introductory Biology series, which may be taken concurrently, or permission of the instructor.