Instructors
- Stacy A. McNulty (SAM)
Adirondack Ecological Center
6312 State Route 28N
Newcomb, NY 12852
smcnulty@esf.edu
website
- Dr. Joseph F. Merritt (JFM)
Illinois Natural History Survey
1816 S. Oak Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 265-7301
jmerritt@uiuc.edu
website
Mammalian Winter Ecology
(EFB 484/684) - 3 credits
February 24-26 and March 11-17, 2012
Course Description
Lectures will discuss identification, natural history, behavior, physiology
and ecology of mammals. Adaptations enhancing over winter survivorship of
mammals in northern environments will be emphasized. Laboratory will employ
live-trapping-mark-recapture methods applied to small mammals. Evaluation
of students is based on 1) participation in classroom and field experiences, 2) oral critique of a scientific article on winter adaptations, 3) proficiency in a written final examination and 4) maintenance of a field
journal.
Course Objectives
Students will learn field techniques associated with ecology and population
processes of mammals. Proficiency will be gained in observational techniques
of large mammals and live capturing and identifying small mammals inhabiting
the Adirondack Mountains of New York. In addition, students will become
familiar with concepts in small mammal ecology, activity patterns, population
processes, habitat requirements and adaptations that enhance winter survivorship
of mammals residing in northern environments. Experience gained in oral
presentation of a scientific article will help acquaint students with guidelines
for presentations at national and international meetings of scientific "societies."
Schedule
February Weekend
Friday
- Afternoon
Lecture - Welcome, introduction and organization of course (SAM)
Field Activity- Trip to a beaver lodge (SAM)
- Evening
Lecture - Mammals of the Adirondacks - Part 1 (CLD)
Saturday
- Morning
Lecture - Track identification primer (CLD)
Field Activity - Track identification at Newcomb AIC (CLD, SAM, NK)
Lecture - Movements of white-tailed deer (SAM)
Field Activity- Radio telemetery demo
- Afternoon
Lecture -
Protocol for trail cameras and snow morphology measurements (CLD, SAM, CS)
Field Activity- Trail camera set up and snow morphology measurements at group study sites
- Evening
Lecture - Mammals of the Adirondacks - Part 2 (CLD)
Sunday
- Morning
QUIZ - Taxonomy of ADK Mammals
Lecture - Winter ecology of white-tailed deer (SAM)
Field Activity - Field trip to winter deer yard (SAM)
- Afternoon
Depart for Syracuse
March Week
Sunday
- Afternoon
Lecture - Welcome and organization of week (JFM
and SAM)
Lecture - Protocol for studying activity of small mammals (JFM)
Field - Establish live-trapping sites and snow morphology measurements
- Evening
Lecture - Introduction: Adaptations to cold (thermoregulation and energy balance) (JFM)
Field Activity - Set live traps and snow measurements
Monday
- Morning
Field Activity - Monitor live traps and snow measurement
Lecture - Fun Flaky Facts (CLD)
Lecture - Torpor and Hibernation (JFM)
- Afternoon
Lecture - American Marten in the Adirondacks (P. Jensen - DEC)
Field Activity -
Retrieve trail cameras
- Evening
Lecture - Body size, insulation, appendages and coloration (JFM)
Field Activity - Set live traps and snow measurements
Tuesday
- Morning
Field Activity - Monitor live traps and snow measurements
Lecture - Behavior (nests , social thermoregulation, caching and subnivean foraging) (JFM)
Field Activity - Snow shelter construction
- Afternoon
Lecture - Bears in the ADKs (B. Tabor)
Field Activity - Snow shelter construction continued
- Evening
Lecture - Coyotes in the ADKs (CLD)
Field Activity - Set live traps and snow measurements
Wednesday
- Morning
Field Activity - Monitor live traps and snow measurements - conclude small mammal trapping
Lecture - Moose in the ADKs (NK)
- Afternoon
Lecture - Bats of Adirondacks and the implications of white-nosed syndrome (TBA)
Lecture - Richness and diversity indices (CLD)
Lecture - Population ecology of small mammals of the Rocky Mountains (JFM)
- Evening
Grad Student Oral presentations (20 minutes each)
Thursday
- Morning
Field Activity - Track count and snow profile measurements
Lecture -
Increase in thermogenic capacity (JFM)
- Afternoon
Lecture - Social thermoregulation of least shrews (JFM)
Field Activity - TBA
- Evening
Oral presentations (15 minutes each)
Friday
- Morning
Lecture - Population cycles of small mammals - do collared lemmings exhibit suicidal tendencies (JFM)
- Morning/Afternoon
Field Activity - Snowshoe to Coney Mountain and visit Wild Center
- Evening
Oral presentations (15 minutes each)
Saturday
- Morning
Final examinations (Lecture and Laboratory)
Students depart (noon)