#instructor information#

instructors:    jacob dittel and christopher moore

offices:    fleishman agriculture (fa) 145 (jd), 142 (cm)

instructor phones:    (775) 784-6781 (jd), (775) 784-1270 (cm)

email addresses:    jdittel[appropriate email symbol]unr.edu, cmmoore[appropriate email symbol]unr.edu

office hours:    by appointment

#course schedule#

last updated: 30 may 2013 @  11:21 am

***week 1***

22 may lecture: introduction to the course, little valley, keeping a field notebook

assigned:  paper critique #1 due in class 29 may (template, example critique; lichen paper, pollinator paper , sampling techniques), read little valley general information (video)

due: nothing

24 to 26 may weekend: no fieldwork (memorial day)

***week 2***

29 may lecture: paper critique #1 discussion, designing successful ecological experiments, experimental and sampling design, scientific methodologies, history of ecology, camping preparation (checklist).

assigned: prepare for camping

due: paper critique #1 in class

01 to 02 june weekend: natural history of little valley

guests: steve vander wall (02 june)

assigned: have fun, learn, begin plant press, begin field notebook

***week 3***

05 june lecture: data analysis, statistical computing (handout)

assigned: prepare for camping, pre-proposal due friday morning 07 june (template), final proposal due in class 12 june (template)

due: in-class statistics workshop assignment (if enough time)

08 to 09 june weekend: long-term ecological research, data collection

assignment: have fun, collect data, continue plant press, continue field notebook

guests: marianne denton (08 june), matt forister (09 june)

due: pre-proposal due friday morning 07 june

***week 4***

12 june lecture: LTER data analysis

assigned: in-class statistics workshop assignment (assignment: data: LineInt.csv, LineInt.xlsx, cover.csv, cover.xlsx)

due: final proposal in class, in-class statistics workshop assignment in class, plant press

14 to 16 june weekend: group research project experimental design setup, data collection, continue plant press, continue field notebook

***week 5***

19 june lecture: group project data analysis

assigned: data analysis (r quickhelp), potential project refinement, group presentation, final research paper (template)

due: nothing

21 to 23 june weekend: group research project data collection, finish plant press, finish field notebook

***week 6***

26 june lecture: final group research project presentations (chris moore’s presentation laws , will ratcliff’s take)

due: group research project presentation, final research paper (28 june), field notebook (28 june)

#course description#

this course is designed to give participants experience in the design and execution of ecological field experiments, and to enhance awareness and appreciation of the natural history and ecosystem dynamics of the eastern sierra nevada.  fieldwork will be performed during four weekend trips to the whittell forest and wildlife area (“little valley”) located in the carson range 25 miles south of reno. there will also be seven evening meetings on campus for discussion of relevant topics and presentation of students' research results. specialists in several related fields (e.g., ornithology, forest management, bear biology) will give guest lectures at weekend campfires.