Welcome to Ecology Lab! On index card Name address Phone number Major & Year Other science courses (relevant/helpful to 335) Allergy/health concerns? Your favorite animal or plant & why

Welcome to Ecology Lab! 335L TA: Alycia Reynolds Lackey Spring 2010

About me... ContactAlycia Reynolds Lackey Office phone: Office: 305 Natural Science Teaching & Research 7 th semester teaching 4 th year Ph.D. student in Zoology

Stickleback Research Two species differ in –Morphology –Diet –Behavior –Feeding habitat –Mating habitat

Loss of distinct species Crayfish cause ecological disturbance –Remove vegetation –Increase turbidity –Change resource base? How does this affect –Feeding?- Reproductive success? –Mating behavior?- Survival?

Office Hours In this room TA: Grace –Mon 10:30-11:30a –Tue 3-4p TA: Alycia –Thu 12-1p –Fri 11a-12p –By appt.

Course Resources Course pack Syllabus Website: ANGEL TAs: Alycia & Grace Lab Coordinator –Stephen

Course Overview Brief course description –Ecology research (field component) –Scientific process, Scientific writing Expectations Arrive on time & be prepared Drinks OK, but no food

Course Overview Course Components (pgs 2-3) –10 Lab Activities (10 pts each) –4 Quizzes (10 pts each) –Group Project (230 pts overall) –TA Review – Participation (20 pts) –Plagiarism Activity (10 pts) –Stats exercise (10 pts) TOTAL = 410pts

Course Overview Late work & absences Schedule (swap weeks 8 & 10)

Your Coursepack -Labs -Group Research Project (pg 135) -Appendices Appendix 1 - Analyzing your data (pg 172) Appendix 2 - Excel Data Analyses (pg 191) Appendix 3 - Referencing Guidelines (pg 194) Appendix 4 & 5 - Common species in woodlots (pg 197)

Getting to know you As a class -Share your name & fav animal/plant In groups of Introduce yourself - Develop working definition of ecology (working definition = you can change it as you learn more) - Come up with 4 examples of ecology - Elect 1 person to share with class

What is Ecology? The study of organisms and their interactions with the environment What “counts” as the environment? What examples of ecology can you think of?

Bkgd knowledge Observation HypothesisPrediction Test (Experiment) Not consistent Modify Hypothesis Consistent Theory The Scientific Method

Today’s Lab Pose an ecological question How? –Observe surroundings –Ask any question that comes to mind Why? –Questions drive science –Basis for semester project

Forming Groups Are you more interested to study... Animals or Plants? BehaviorInsects Mammals BirdsFungi Biodiversity FlowersSoilWater Erosion Human impactsRiver ecology Share your interests with > 6 classmates Form groups of 3 with members that have similar interests

Group Work Exchange names & contact info Make group name * List behaviors that - Benefit group work - Hinder group work * Share your personal behaviors/skills that tend to benefit & hinder group work * How can you work together to be most effective?

Developing Scientific Questions Good Scientific Questions –Answered by experiment or observation –Well-defined, measurable and controllable –Answers benefit who? How much? From Abedon, Ohio State University

–Ask something you don’t already know the answer to –Look at multiple relationships (multiple potentially contributing factors) –Ask a wh- question What, when, why Tips to ask “good” questions

After the Question Form a hypothesis – An educated answer to the question posed Make some predictions –What do you expect? –Usually have direction/relationship (greater, smaller, etc.) Develop Methods –How can you test your hypothesis –Use your predictions as a guide

Example Question: What determines the height of squirrel nests? Hypothesis: Tree density determines height of squirrel nest Prediction: The height of squirrel nests will vary with tree density. If ….(hypothesis) Then….(prediction)

Example Observation: Abundance of ladybugs on flowering goldenrod plants. Question: Why are ladybugs attracted to these plants? Hypothesis: Goldenrod flowers are a food source for ladybugs Prediction 1:Ladybugs will eat the flowers of goldenrod Prediction 2: Ladybugs will not eat the stem of goldenrod Prediction 3: Ladybugs are not as abundant on non- flowering goldenrod

What You’ll Do Today (pg 6) Walk to Sanford Natural Area Individually, write 3-5 questions Return to class In your groups, –Discuss Questions –Develop hypotheses and predictions –Share best with class *Need Project Question (pg 138) by Jan 25 (Mon section) or Jan 26 (Tue section)

Map

Group Discussion of Questions Discuss questions Select top 3 questions based on –Interest & Importance –Connection to background knowledge (i.e. does the question make sense/is it interesting based on what you already know?) Fill out pg. 8 (1 sheet per group) See pgs 6-7 for more guidance

Brainstorm Group Research Project Questions Does not have to be the same as 3 questions developed today Some examples: –Behaviors of squirrels, ducks, insects –Soil pH & plant abundance –Effect of river distance on plant diversity Next time, bring finalized group project question (typed)

Turn in pg 8 before you leave. Write all names on sheet Assignments due by Tue, Jan 26 No lab next week Complete plagiarism exercise on ANGEL Read Gall Lab Read over Group Research project Bring finalized group question to class next time we meet pg. 138 (please type)