BIOEE 6602 - Graduate Field Course in Ecology

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Field trip fee: TBA to cover food and lodging in Florida. Enrollment limited to: graduate students. Field trip component takes place in Florida.

J. Sparks, K. Zamudio.

Designed to give graduate students experience in defining questions and designing field investigations. The course is based at the Archbold Biological Station in central Florida over spring break and during the following week. The class visits several ecosystems including sand pine scrub, cattle ranches, cypress swamps, and the Everglades.

Outcome 1: Identify the most ecologically significant organisms in Florida scrub habitats.

Outcome 2: Explain the ecological roles of these critical species in their habitats.

Outcome 3: Formulate two or more original hypotheses about an ecological issue in the Florida scrub.

Outcome 4: Design experimental or observational tests of hypotheses that can be carried out in a week’s time.

Outcome 5: Design an experiment or set of observations (both theoretical and practical) to execute a meaningful research project.

Outcome 6: Accomplish research tasks effectively.

Outcome 7: Design experiments that can be carried out using the equipment and supplies that can be carried with them. They will work out ways to sample, carry out experiments, and fill simple scientific needs with materials that can be purchased locally (such as at hardware stores, etc.).