Course Description:
FIELD ECOLOGY, BIOE 342, June 24–July 19, M–Th, Full Day; F, Half Day; 5 Credits Prerequisites: College-level biology, chemistry, and mathematics or equivalents; or consent of instructor. The course engages major concepts and approaches in modern ecology via immersive field experiences, hands-on sampling, and project-based learning in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Topics range from physiological and behavioral ecology to population and community ecology to ecosystem ecology. The course will build students’ natural history knowledge of the biota of the Rocky Mountain region while directly engaging them in active research projects of FLBS / UM faculty. This course is conducted largely outdoors regardless of weather so that ecological phenomena can be examined in real time and real life. All-day and overnight trips will be conducted throughout the course, taking students into a range of aquatic and terrestrial environments near the Bio Station and the adjacent mountain areas including Glacier National Park. Students should be physically fit and able to hike 10 miles per day. Students will conduct directed measurements connected to ongoing research projects of the faculty, developing technical skills as well as skills in analysis and interpretation in written and oral form. Meets UM writing requirement. Instructors – Dr. James Elser, FLBS-U of Montana (https://flbs.umt.edu/urls/people) and Dr. Diana Six, U of Montana (https://www.cfc.umt.edu/personnel/details.php?ID=1140)

Web Address of Course Info:
https://flbs.umt.edu/apps/education/