Regional Biology

I co-teach this course with Professor Delbert Hutchison

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Field biology of a region with emphasis on ecology and evolution in a natural history context. Students will prepare for the trip by researching and developing a presentation that they will give to the group at the field site on a relevant aspect of the site’s biology. Students will also keep field notebooks, which will be turned in at the end of the trip and will be graded. Trip will usually be taken over a long weekend (typically Thursday to Sunday). May be repeated for credit for different areas, but no more than two credits may apply towards required Biology major (or Biology-Environmental Studies or Biology minor).

Fee: $50. Prerequisites: BIOL 111, BIOL 112 and declared Biology or Biology-Environmental Studies major or Biology minor.

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Previous destinations include:

Harney Basin, OR (Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Steens Mountain, etc.)

San Juan Islands, WA (Orcas Island, sea kayaking)

Wallowa County, OR (Wallowa Mountains, Zumwalt Prairie, etc.)

White Pass, WA (Cascades, west and east slopes)

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IMPORTANT:

First Thursday of fall semester 7pm - MANDATORY PLANNING MEETING - Science Hall room 151

At this meeting, we will discuss more details of the trip, and each student will select a topic to research prior to the trip

The cost is 50$ per student. This covers transportation, food, and camping fees.

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Grades:

Your grade will be determined based on the following:

1. With our help, you will select a topic relevant to our trip destination at our preliminary meeting the first week of the semester. You will research that topic during the few weeks leading up to the trip and prepare a detailed outline and bibliography. When we are in the field, you may be asked to present your information to the class.

2. A field notebook. In your field notebook you will record information learned from others as well as your own natural history observations and interpretations. We will provide further guidence on field notebook content at the beginning of the trip. Follow the rubric provided.

3. Thoughtful and positive participation in the various aspects of the trip.