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Mammalian Winter Ecology
(EFB 484/684) - 2 credits

February 26-28 and March 14-20, 2010

Instructors: Dr. Joseph. F. Merritt (JFM) and Dr. William F. Porter(WFP)

• Joseph F. Merritt
  Illinois Natural History Survey
  1816 S. Oak Street
  Champaign, IL 61820
  Phone: (217) 265-7301
  jmerritt@uiuc.edu
  www.indstate.edu/ecology/faculty/merritt.htm
  
  
• William F Porter
  Faculty of Environmental and Forest Biology
  SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
  Syracuse, NY 13210
  Phone: (315) 470-6798; FAX: (315) 470-6934
  wfporter@syr.edu
  www.esf.edu/efb/porter/

DESCRIPTION OF COURSE:

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) expertise with field techniques, 2) oral and written critique of a recent scientific article on small mammal ecology, and 3) proficiency in a written final examination and 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 (WFP)
Field - Track identification at Newcomb VIC (CLD, AMW, CGH)

Evening  

Lecture - Mammals of the Adirondacks - Part 1 (CLD)

Saturday

Morning

Lecture - Radio telemetry primer AMW
Field - Radio Telemetry exercise
Lecture - Movements of white-tailed deer (WFP)

Afternoon

Lecture - Protocol for trail cameras and snow morpholoty measurements (CLD, AMW, CGH)
Field - Trail camera set up and snow morphology measurements at group study sites

Evening

Lecture - Mammals of the Adirondacks - Part 2 (CLD)

Sunday

Morning

Lecture - Winter ecology of white-tailed deer (WFP)
Field Activity -  Field trip to winter deer yard (WFP)

Afternoon

Depart for Syracuse

 

 

--- March Week ----

Sunday

Afternoon

Lecture - Welcome and organization of week (JFM  and WFP)
Lecture - Protocol for studying activity of small mammals (JFM)
Lecture - Snow morphology and measurements   
Field - Establish live-trapping sites and snow morphology measurements
 
Evening

Lecture - Population ecology of small mammals of the Rocky Mountains (JFM)
Field Activity - Set live traps and snow measurements

Monday

Morning

Field Activity - Monitor live traps and snow measurement
Lecture - Introduction: Adaptations to cold (thermoregulation and energy balance) (JFM)
   
Afternoon

Field Activity - Retrieve trail cameras
Lecture - American Marten in the Adirondacks (P. Jensen - DEC)
Lecture - Program Presence (CGH)

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 - Increase in thermogenic capacity (JFM)
Field Activity - Snow shelter construction continued

Evening 
Lecture - Track Identification Primer (CLD)
Field Activity - Set live traps and snow measurements

 

Wednesday

Morning

Field Activity - Monitor live traps and snow measurements - conclude small mammal trapping
Field Activity - Track count and snow profile measurements (CLD, CGH, AMW, SAM)

Afternoon
Lecture - Torpor and Hibernation (SKC)
   
 Evening
    Oral presentations (15 minutes each)

Thursday

Morning

Field Activity - Track count
Lecture - Bats of the Adirondacks (SKC)

Afternoon
Lecture - Moose (CGH)
  
Evening
    Oral presentations (15 minutes each)

Friday

Morning
Field Activity - Snowshoe to Henderson Lake (CLD)

Afternoon
Lecture - Adirondack Black Bears (B. Tabor)
Lecture - Population cycles of small mammals - do collared lemmings exhibit suicidal tendencies (JFM)

Evening
    Oral presentations (15 minutes each)

Saturday

Morning
    Final examinations (Lecture and Laboratory)
    Students depart (noon)