Field EcologyField Ecology Four-day WorkshopFour-day Workshop

A Component of A Component of Athabasca University’s Athabasca University’s

BIOL 345: EcologyBIOL 345: Ecology

Objective 1

Use some basic equipment and techniques of terrestrial and freshwater ecology.

Objective 2

Determine some of the limitations of the (theoretical) definitions of basic ecological terms when they are applied in the real world.

Objective 3

Discuss the kinds of machine and human errors and biases involved in using measuring devices and techniques.

Objective 4

Discuss the importance of proper collection, preservation, and identification of organisms for ecological studies.

Objective 5

Undertake preliminary research in ecological scientific literature.

Objective 6

Explain limitations of current research methods and scientific knowledge.

Day 1: Physical FactorsDay 1: Physical Factors• instruments instruments – precision versus accuracy– precision versus accuracy• temperaturetemperature• water/humiditywater/humidity• nutrients of soil and water, e.g., N, P, Knutrients of soil and water, e.g., N, P, K• wind/currentwind/current• pHpH

• OO22 and CO and CO22

Day 2: Terrestrial Day 2: Terrestrial ProducersProducers

• quadrats and transectsquadrats and transects• productivityproductivity• collection and preservationcollection and preservation• identificationidentification• ecological terminologyecological terminology

Day 3: Terrestrial Day 3: Terrestrial ConsumersConsumers

• sampling methods (various nets and traps)

• ethics and legalities of collecting

• preservation and identification

• kinds of consumers• trophic levels

Day 4: Aquatic ConsumersDay 4: Aquatic Consumers• sampling methods• preservation and identification• food chains and webs

Habitat 1:Habitat 1: ForestForest

Habitat 2:Habitat 2: MeadowMeadow

Habitat 3:Habitat 3: Lentic (pond Lentic (pond and lake)and lake)

Habitat 4:Habitat 4: Lotic Lotic (river and stream)(river and stream)

Availability• The four-day Field Ecology Workshop is held only in the summer in Athabasca, Alberta.

• Students can take the workshop up to 14 months after their initial enrolment in the course.

Course Professor Course Professor BIOL 345: EcologyBIOL 345: Ecology

Dr. Roland TreuDr. Roland Treu

Centre for ScienceCentre for Science

Athabasca UniversityAthabasca University

Athabasca, AlbertaAthabasca, Alberta

T9S 3A3 CanadaT9S 3A3 Canada

Telephone: 780-675-6593Telephone: 780-675-6593

Email: rolandt@athabascau.caEmail: rolandt@athabascau.ca

Acknowledgment

This slide show was

compiled by Dr. Robert

Holmberg who designed

BIOL 345: Ecology and

taught it for many years.