Winter Ecology Syllabus
BI257 January, 2010
Herb Wilson Sarah Gibbs
x5739 x5747
113 Arey 305 Olin
/ Note: the schedule given below is dependent on the weather and is therefore subject to change. The lectures, laboratories and field trips will be given but the dates may change.Date Readings
Week I - Physical features of the winter environment
Jan 4 AM Heat and temperature; heat transfer; humidity M: 94-98
PM Film; put out iButtons and visit bird blind
Jan 5 AM Snow formation and metamorphism M: 11-39
PM Weather patterns; Maine biophysical regions; film
Jan 6 AM Plant adaptations to the cold M: 42-91; 164-184
PM Insect and ectothermic vertebrates: adaptations to cold Bales
Jan 7 AM Avian winter ecology; avian physiology M: 98-141; 185-238
PM Chickadee winter biology; mammal physiology
Week II - Field work
Jan 11 AM/PM Chickadee project – Perkins Arboretum
Jan 12-14 Field trip to Flagstaff Lake region
Jan 12 AM Begin quinzhee construction
PM Snow measurements; finish quinzhee construction
Jan 13 AM Snowshoe hike to Bear Brook Bog
PM Snowshoe hike from Bear Brook Bog
Evening Winter plant identification
Jan 14 AM Snow measurements; snowshoe hike to Flagstaff Lake
PM Return to Colby
Jan 15 Mid-term exam – (self-scheduled – must be completed by 5 PM)
Week III - Fieldwork
Jan 18 AM Human cold adaptation; biochemical adaptations; film
PM Adaptations of intertidal invertebrates; film Johnston; Loomis
Jan 19 AM/PM Chickadee project
Jan 20 AM Winter ecology symposium – session I
PM Field trip to Kennebec River
Jan 21 AM Winter ecology symposium – session II
PM Goldenrod gall project
Week IV – Data crunching
Jan 25 AM Ice formation
PM Data analysis by teams
Jan 26 AM/PM Field trip to Moxie Falls and Moxie Pond
Jan 27 AM Data presentation
PM Review
Jan 28 Final exam and lab practical
Abbreviations: M: Marchand; (R) - on reserve in Science Library
Textbooks:
Halfpenny, J. Scat and Tracks of the Northeast. 2001 . Falcon Press, Guilford, CT.
Heinrich, B. 2003. Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival. Harper Collins Books, New York.
Marchand, P. 1996. Life in the Cold. University Press of New England, Hanover, NH.
Grades:
Mid-term exam 25%
Critique 8%
Symposium presentation 5%
Data analysis and presentation 6%
Tracking notebook 6%
Practical 15%
Final exam 35%
Course objectives
1) to learn about the physical features of the winter environment
2) to learn about adaptations of plants and animals to the winter environment
3) to evaluate critically a journal article on winter ecology
4) to interpret and communicate a paper on winter ecology
5) to learn to identify plants, insects, birds and mammals in winter
6) to learn to identify and interpret mammals signs