Biology 3990 - Special Topics Course

Biology 3990: Ecology Field Methods - identification and field methods for ecological study of terrestrial and aquatic animals and plants

Course Description (3 credits) : 
Field identification of northern Minnesota terrestrial flora and fauna by sight and sound (trees, shrubs, forbs, birds, amphibians, and earthworms) and aquatic flora and fauna (macroinvertebrates, zooplankton and phytoplankton). Field methods for conducting ecological research and monitoring of plants and animals in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to assess presence and relative abundance of plants and animals. Sampling methods explored will include using releves, variable radius plots, point-counts, random plots, line transects, calling surveys, dip nets and tow nets. Fieldwork will include techniques relevant to project design, data collection and basic statistical analysis.

Class Schedule & Location: 
May term 2008 (May 19-23, 27-30 and June 2-5) from 8am -4pm.

The course is completely field based and will be held at Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center, ~20 minutes drive from the UMD campus which offers some of the most interesting and diverse habitats in the region. It's a treasure you will be glad to have discovered! For a link to Boulder Lake ELC maps and directions, click here.

Course objectives/outcomes:      
Students will learn field identification of northern Minnesota flora & fauna, including:

1. terrestrial trees, shrubs and ground flora by sight
2. breeding songbirds by sight and by sound
3. breeding amphibians by sight and sound
4. exotic earthworms by sight
5. stream and benthic macroinvertebrates by sight
6. dominant lake zooplankton and phytoplankton by sight

Students will apply their identification skills while gathering data to assess presence and relative abundance of

1. terrestrial plants with releves, plotless and variable radius plot assessment techniques. 
2. songbirds with point-counts and line transects,
3. amphibians with calling surveys and trapping,
4. exotic earthworms with random plots or line transects, including associated basic soil features and abiotic characteristics.
5. stream and benthic macroinvertebrates with dip net sampling protocols
6. lake zooplankton and phytoplankton tow net sampling, including sampling of the abiotic characteristics of the water column (i.e. temperature, oxygen, etc.)

Students will use the data they collect to gain insight into the ecology and natural history of a specific site, Boulder Lake Management Area, as a model for assessing environmental questions across the region, including practice in

• basic scientific methods of field-based inquiry commonly used in site-based monitoring efforts.
• understand the techniques and methods of basic study design and sampling for a range of terrestrial and aquatic animals and plants.
• identifying common aquatic and terrestrial exotic species and describe their impacts on ecosystems.
• identifying northern hardwood and conifer forest types and describe and contrast their composition and ecology.
• understanding the relationships between physical and biotic characteristics of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
• understanding how to use site-based monitoring to achieve specific research and educational goals.

Conceptual outline/topics:     

• History and development of ecological sciences of plant taxonomy, ornithology, herpetology, exotic species (earthworms and soils), water quality and limnology.
• Importance and of plants and animals as indicators of environmental condition and examples of the growth in ecological monitoring as a tool for public engagement and appreciation of environmental science.
• National and regional monitoring programs for birds, amphibians, earthworms and aquatic organisms, including citizen science efforts and the role they can play in overall ecological monitoring.
• Local, regional, national and international efforts that include the use of plants birds, amphibians, earthworms and aquatic organisms to assess a variety of environmental questions and concerns.

Field sessions
“Natural history tours” of representative northern Minnesota native forest communities including northern hardwoods, lowland conifer, upland conifer, mixed aspen-spruce-fir communities at Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center with identification of terrestrial plants, birds and amphibians. “Natural History Tour” of Boulder Lake Reservoir including deep and shallow water habitats, associated streams, and a range of wetland types. These will serve as introductions to primary aquatic and terrestrial organisms and ecosystems for which monitoring projects may be developed, including hands-on practice with a variety of sampling methods and data collection resources for plants, animals and abiotic characteristics of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

1. Plant survey methods including point-less, variable radius plots, and releve methods, including an introduction to study design, determining what methods are appropriate for the goals and objective of a particular study.
2. Bird survey field methods with point counts and line transects, and standard protocols for ecological monitoring.
3. Amphibian surveys and trapping methodology including an evening frog identification surveys (sight and sound), and standard protocols for use in ecological monitoring.
4. Earthworm and soil sampling with random plots and line transects using a variety of earthworm sampling methods and the description of upper soil horizons and their characteristics (i.e. thickness, color, texture, etc.)
5. Macroinvertebrate sampling in stream habitats including methods used to monitor water quality based on macroinvertebrate populations
6. Limnological sampling including tow net sampling of zooplankton and phytoplankton and sampling of the abiotic characteristics of the water column (i.e. temperature, oxygen, light, etc.) at different times of the day/night to illustrate the dynamic nature of the water column and how organisms respond.

 Lab and home work sessions

1. tapes and cd’s of avian and anuran calls
2. ID of pressed plant specimens,
3. Microscope work identifying collected and preserved aquatic organisms and exotic earthworms.
4. Review of handouts and other resources to aid in learning the relevant ID features of different organisms.

Representative bibliography (up to 10 probable readings): 

Hale, C.M. 2007. Earthworms of the Great Lakes Region. Kollath & Stensaas Publishing. 36 pages.

Hisschemöller, M. and C. J. H. Midden. 1999. Improving the usability of research on the public perception of science and technology for policy-making. Public Understanding of Science 8 (1):17-33.

Howe, R.W., G.J. Niemi, S.J. Lewis, and D.A. Welsh. 1998. A standard method for monitoring bird populations in the Great Lakes region. Passenger Pigeon 59:183-194 (Reprinted in the Loon 70:188-197, 1999).

Oldfield, B. and J.J. Moriarty. 1994. Amphibians and reptiles native to Minnesota. U of MN Press, Mpls, MN.

National Geographic Society.  2004. Field guide to the birds of North America. National Geographic Society.

Morley, T. 1966. Spring flora of Minnesota.  U of MN Press, Mpls, MN.

Knutson, M. G., J.R. Sauer, D.A Olsen, M.J. Mossman, L.M. Hemesath, and M. J. Lannoo. 1999. Effects of landscape composition and wetland fragmentation on frog and toad abundance and species richness in Iowa and Wisconsin, U.S.A. Conservation Biology 13: 1437-1446.