CON-202L Principles of Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Lab

In this hands-on laboratory-based course, students will have the opportunity to conduct studies and perform experiments that enrich their knowledge and understanding of the scientific concepts learned in the lecture portion of CON-202/BIO-221 Principles of Terrestrial/Aquatic Ecology. Laboratory exercises will include a combination of field trips and observational and experimental studies as well as in-classes exercises aimed at preparing students for upper level coursework in the field of ecology (e.g. reading scientific papers, presenting data, interpreting graphs).

Credits

1

Cross Listed Courses

BIO-221L

Prerequisite

BIO-121 or BIO-125

Corequisite

CON-202/221

Department

• Environmental Conservation and Horticulture

Semesters Course Will Be Offered

• Fall
• Spring

For more detailed course information view the Course Outline

CON 202L: Principles of Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Lab

Department

Environmental Conservation and Horticulture

Course Description

In this hands-on laboratory-based course, students will have the opportunity to conduct studies and perform experiments that enrich their knowledge and understanding of the scientific concepts learned in the lecture portion of CON-202/BIO-221 Principles of Terrestrial/Aquatic Ecology. Laboratory exercises will include a combination of field trips and observational and experimental studies as well as in-classes exercises aimed at preparing students for upper level coursework in the field of ecology (e.g. reading scientific papers, presenting data, interpreting graphs).

Credit Hours

1

Contact Hours

Lecture	0
Lab	2
Other	0

Grading Scheme

Letter

Semester(s) Course Will Be Offered

Fall, Spring

Prerequisites

BIO-121 or BIO-125

Corequisites

CON-202/221

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Exercise the steps of scientific method (e.g. experimental design, collecting observations, building hypotheses, analyzing and communicating results).
2. Integrate results from peer-reviewed studies to advance comprehension of laboratory activities and independent research.
3. Execute standard ecological procedures (e.g. plant and animal sampling techniques, data analyses, spreadsheet usage, statistical analyses).

Topic Outline

1. Population Ecology 
   1. Population Dynamic Studies (e.g. life history / cohort tables, mark-recapture experiments, dendrochronology studies, intra-specific competition experiments) 
2. Community Ecology
   1. Field Sampling of Different Communities 
   2. Species Interaction Experiments (e.g. interspecific competition experiments, predator-prey studies)
   3. Species Richness / Biodiversity Sampling 
3. Ecosystem Ecology
   1. Biogeochemical Studies (e.g. carbon flow experiments, nutrient cycling studies)