Winter
Mammalian Ecology
EFB 484 / 684
Course Objectives & Assignments
- Friday February 26, 8:00 AM – Depart from below Lawrinson Hall
in College vans
- Sunday February 28, 6:00 PM – Return to campus
- Sunday March 14, 8:30
-8:45 AM—Depart from below Lawrinson Hall in College vans
- Saturday March 20, 4:00 -
6:00 PM—Return to campus
What to Bring:
- Good boots - Come prepared to
be out in the snow and to be inside with your boots off.
- Layers of clothing - Come
prepared to be out in the snow, and indoors every day without the chance
to go back to your cabin. Be prepared for deep snow, wind and cold
temperatures, and also warm, sunny days.
- Notebook approximately 9
inches by 6 inches, hardbound - You will be asked to keep a journal
following a format that we will provide. You'll also use the notebooks to
make notes from lecture and keep track of ecological conditions and data
in the field. The notebooks will be turned in at the end of the week in
March and evaluated. They will be returned to you after the grading
in complete.
- Sleeping bag or blankets and
pillow - There will be good bunks in warm, dry cabins.
- Towel, shower kit, etc.
Daypack size backpack - We will be in
and out of the classroom, and vans every day. You'll want to keep
some layers with you.
- Snow pants, wind pants, long
underwear - We will be out in the field every day. In past years,
some days were -20 degrees F and windchill was probably -40.
- Snowshoes - Bring them if you
have them. We can supply you with them if you don't.
- Flashlight - The
sleeping quarters and restrooms are in separate buildings. On
moonless nights, the Adirondacks can be
amazingly dark.
- Water bottle & travel
mug - Optional, but strongly recommended
- Sunglasses or ski
goggles - Optional, but strongly recommended
- Camera and Binoculars -
Optional, but encouraged
- $435 – Check, credit or debit
card. Payable to Adirondack
Ecological Center. We will collect money upon arrival at AEC.
Assignments:
Life in the Cold:
- Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5 ,7, 8
Oral Presentation
- *Synopsis of research article
from primary literature
- Topic related to
morphological, physiological or behavioral adaptations of mammals to life
in the cold
- 10 minutes – rationale, objectives,
methods, findings, relation to mammalian adaptation to winter
- PowerPoint - including
scanned photos, and figures; program must be submitted on CD upon
arrival. No editing will be possible after submission.
- *Graduate students must
develop synopsis and synthesis of at least 3 articles
Grading:
- 25% Participation
- 25% Journal
- 25% Oral Presentation
- 25% Final Exam
Instructional
Objectives:
- Students will be able to
describe at least 5 different kinds, each, of morphological, physiological
and behavioral adaptations to living in the cold.
- Students will be able to make
a coherent PowerPoint presentation on winter adaptations of mammals.
- Students will be able to
describe the importance of attributes of snow, vegetation and landform to
survival of mammals in winter.
- Student will be able to
identify mammals and describe natural history as it relates to winter
ecology of various groups of mammals.