Field Animal Behavior

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EEB 3898: Field Animal Behavior

May Term, May 13th - 31st, 2013 MTWThF 1-4pm Torrey Life Sciences, Rm 181

Instructor: Dr. Kristiina Hurme

Office: TLS 379

Phone: 860-486-5434

Office hours: variable & flexible (call, email, drop by)


Course Objectives

➢ Learn how to observe animal behavior

➢ Notice animal behavior in our daily lives

➢ Learn how to take field notes

➢ Learn and apply basic field techniques, study design, and data analysis

➢ Develop a research project

➢ Improve collaboration skills


Course Materials

Binos.jpg

• Required

o Binoculars (available from us if you don’t have any)

o Field notepad/notebook

o Watch with countdown timer that beeps

o Closed-toe shoes (no sandals) or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (poison ivy, weather)

• Recommended

o Field Guides (birds, mammals, insects, etc.) for New England or Eastern US

o Camera

o Insect repellent (ticks, mosquitoes)

o Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat


Tentative* schedule

Day Topic Day Topic Day Topic
M 13 Course introduction and timeline; Bird identification M 20 Pdficon small.gifOrtega & Capen 1999, Field notebooks (First Submission) M 27 MEMORIAL DAY - NO CLASS; make observations on your own!
T 14 Field exercises, start project thinking T 21 Individual project presentations; Paper submission (Introduction and Methods) T 28 Survey of coastal birds / Field notebooks (Final Submission)
W 15 Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis W 22 MIDTERM EXAM; birding after W 29 Project presentations and assisted work on the paper
Th 16

Survey of local birds (Mansfield Hollow), Project guidelines discussion and selection (written ideas)

Th 23 Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment) Th 30 Review session in preparation for the final; PAPER SUBMISSION (FINAL)
F 17 F 24 F 31 FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations

*: Schedule is subject to change pending weather conditions, or unforeseen observation and research opportunities.


Grading

Exams: May 22nd (MIDTERM) [50 points]; May 31st (FINAL) [50 points]


Project Paper: May 21st (Intro and Methods) [30 points]; May 30th (Final) [50 points]


Project Presentations: May 21st (Intro and Methods) [20 points]; May 29th (Final) [25 points]


Field Notebook Submissions: May 20th (First) [20 points]; May 28th (Final) [25 points]


Field trips = Birding exercises (5 points each): Dates will be weather dependent [30 points]


Total: [300 points]


Grading scale: A = 100-90%, B = 89-80%, C = 79-70%, D = 69-60%, F = 59-0%. Plus/minus system will be used for the final grade.


Additional References & Websites

• Eastern Forests: A field guide to birds, mammals, trees, flowers, and more. Peterson Field Guides.

• Stiling P. 1999. Ecology: theories and application. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

• Clark, G. A. 1999. Birds of Storrs, Connecticut and vicinity. 3rd Ed. Mansfield, CT: Natchaug Ornithological Society & Joshua’s Tract Conservation and Historic Trust.

• SORA (Searchable Ornithological Research Archive): http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/index.php

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds

• Natchaug Ornithological Society: http://www.nosbird.org/ (esp. “local hotspots” http://www.nosbird.org/hotspots.html)

• Connecticut Ornithological Association: http://www.ctbirding.org/index.htm

• CT Audubon Society: http://www.ctaudubon.org/

• CT Department of Environmental Protection: http://www.ct.gov/dep/site/default.asp


Website design by Diego Sustaita