Field Ecology Four-day Workshop A Component of Athabasca University’s BIOL 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 Factors instruments – precision versus accuracyinstruments – 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 O 2 and CO 2O 2 and CO 2

Day 2: Terrestrial Producers quadrats and transectsquadrats and transects productivityproductivity collection and preservationcollection and preservation identificationidentification ecological terminologyecological terminology

Day 3: Terrestrial Consumers sampling methods (various nets and traps) ethics and legalities of collecting preservation and identification kinds of consumers trophic levels

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

Habitat 1: Forest

Habitat 2: Meadow

Habitat 3: Lentic (pond and lake)

Habitat 4: Lotic (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 BIOL 345: Ecology Dr. Roland Treu Centre for Science Athabasca University Athabasca, Alberta T9S 3A3 Canada Telephone:

Acknowledgment This slide show was compiled by Dr. Robert Holmberg who designed BIOL 345: Ecology and taught it for many years.