Syllabus: Introduction to field and laboratory methods in ecology

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This course aims to provide student tools to conduct general ecological researches both in the field and laboratory. After successfully completing this course you should be able to: demonstrate understanding of procedure for planning an ecological research project; describe project design and data management in field research; Understand how to choose and describe the research sites; describe general sampling techniques for static and mobile organisms;...

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Nội dung Text: Syllabus: Introduction to field and laboratory methods in ecology

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE ESP 123 INTRODUCTION TO FIELD AND LABORATORY METHODS IN ECOLOGY Syllabus 1
Teaching Staff Subject lecturer: NGUYEN THI THU HUONG Organization: Office Location: Phone: Mobile phone: 0912 530872 Email: nguyenhuong0987@gmail.com Consultation hours: 45 Msc. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong obtained her Bsc (Honors) in Biological Science and Msc in Ecology and Environmental Science from Hanoi national University of Education. Her second Msc is Animal Science conferred by the University of Queensland Australia. Subject Overview Welcome to ESP 123, this course provides you the tools to study principles of ecology and other related fields. It develops from the courses of biology, ecology, statistics and research methodology. In this course we will examine the whole process of conducting a general ecological study of which focus on methodologies to collect and analyses data. Topic includes a general design of an ecological study, sampling methodologies, ecological measurements, analysis of habitat, population and production, interpreting information by using statistic software and presenting research information. Learning Outcomes This course aims to provide student tools to conduct general ecological researches both in the field and laboratory. After successfully completing this course you should be able to: 1. Demonstrate understanding of procedure for planning an ecological research project. 2. Describe project design and data management in field research. 3. Understand how to choose and describe the research sites. 4. Describe general sampling techniques for static and mobile organisms. 5. List and describe the measurements and methodologies for analysing habitat, populations, community and production. 6. Develop ability to collect, analyse and organise information from theory to practice. 7. Strengthen ability to interact effectively with others in order to work towards a common outcome. 8. Reinforce ability to work and learn independently. 2
Subject Structure Students are expected to attend [how many] lectures. The Subject’s timetable is as follows: Lecture time and location: [lecture time] [location] List of lectures Lecture No. Topic Instructional delivery methods PART 1. PREPARATION 1-2 1.1. Choosing a topic for study Narrate, questioning 3 1.2. Literature review 4-5 1.3. Experimental design Practice a case study 6 1.4. Practical considerations Lecture 1.5. Sampling methods Presentation PART 2. DATA COLLECTION Demonstration 2.1. Monitoring research site 7 2.1.1. Site selection Lecture 2.2.2. Site characterisation Presentation 2.2. Sampling static organisms 8 2.2.1. Ecological measurements Lecture 9 2.2.2. Plot sampling Lecture, 10 2.2.3. Transect sampling demonstration, group 11-12 2.2.4. Quadrat sampling discussion 2.3. Sampling mobile organisms 13-15 2.3.1. General issues Questioning 2.3.2. Terrestrial invertebrate sampling Lecture, virtual demonstration 16-17 2.3.3. Aquatic sampling Presentation, case study 18 2.3.4. Capture – recapture sampling Filling in game 19 2.3.5. Removal sampling 20-28 2.3.6. Terrestrial vertebrate sampling Lecture, virtual demonstration MIDTERM EXAM PART 3. ANALYSING INFORMATION 3.1. Analysis of habitat 29 3.1.1. Microhabitat analysis Lecture, pair-up 3.1.2. Atmospheric analysis interview 30 3.1.3. Substrate analysis Discussion 31 3.1.4. Analysis of aquatic habitats Lecture 3.1.5. Chemical analysis of habitats Discussion, 3
presentation 32 3.1.6. Habitat assessment Lecture Virtual labs exercise 3.2. Analysis of population 33 3.2.1. Age structure and survivorship Lecture, in class 3.2.2. Population growth exercise 34 3.2.3. Population desperation Presentation 3.2.4. Competition Lecture , Self-study 3.2.5. Predator 3.3. Analysis of community Presentation 35 3.3.1. Community structure Questioning 3.3.2. Species diversity Group discussion 3.3.3. Community similarity Take home exercise 36 3.3.4. Ecological succession Lecture Virtual labs exercise 3.4. Analysis of production 37 3.4.1. Biomass measurement Lecture 3.4.2. Aquatic productivity Presentation 38 3.4.3. Aquatic micro ecosystem Group discussion 39-40 3.5. Testing the hypothesis using basic statistical Practicing Minitab test and simple linear models software PART 4. PRESENTING INFORMATION 41 4.1.Structure Questioning 42 4.2. Writing style Case study 43-45 PRESENTATION Reading materials: Required resource 1. Brower, J. E., Zar, J. H., & Von Ende, C. N. (1998), ‘Field and laboratory methods for general ecology’, 4 edition, McGraw-Hill Education. 2. Wajnberg E; Bernstein Carlos; Alphen Jacques van (2007). Behavioral ecology of insect parasitoids from theoretical approaches to field applications 3. Suitability of north american tree species to the gypsy moth: a summary of field and laboratory tests (1995). Liebhold, Andrew M ; Northeastern Forest Experiment Station (Radnor, Pa.) 4. New Paleobiology Study Findings Have Been Reported by Investigators at Trinity College (Predation on feather stars by regular echinoids as evidenced by laboratory and field observations and its paleobiological implications). Science Letter, (2017_, p.1052 Other learning resource and information: Please check the website where you can conduct some virtual labs http://glencoe.mheducation.com/sites/0078695104/student_view0/unit1/chapter4/index.html 4
Attendance/ Participation Requirements Lecture Attendance Requirement: Attendance at all lectures is expected. If, for whatever reason, you cannot attend the lecture, please let the lecturer know in advance. You are required to attend a minimum of 75% of lectures. Assessment Assessment for this subject consists of : Assessment task Weighting Due date Presentation 20% Midterm exam 30% Final exam 50% Assessment Criteria: Assignment Type: Assignment Learning Objectives Assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7. Due date: Weight: 20% Task Description: Design an experiment that related to ecological sciences. The study can be a real or an artificial case/problem/issue that consist data collection in the field and analysis in the laboratory. The presentation should include the research question, hypothesis, objectives and methods. The methodology have to be described in details. You will conduct this assignment by group of 5 students. The group is assigned randomly from the name list. Each group registers their study topic in the fourth lecture. The experimental design will be presented in the three last sessions. Each presentation lasts in 8 mins (5 mins for presenting and 3 mins for questioning). Peer marking is applied in the presentation and worth 70%. The remaining (30%) is lecturer’s assessment. Midterm exam Type: Exam - during Exam Period (Middle) Learning Objectives Assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Due Date: Examination Period Weight: 30% Reading: 10 minutes Duration: 60 minutes 5
Format: Multiple-choice, short answer, short essay. Task Description: The total multiple-choice questions are 6, each worth 5 marks. There will be 6 compulsory short questions, each worth 5 marks. Each short question should be answered in 3 to 5 sentences or some key works. A short essay (from a choice of two) is included and worth 40 marks. End of semester exam Type: Exam - during Exam Period (Central) Learning Objectives Assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Due Date: Examination Period Weight: 50% Reading: 10 minutes Duration: 90 minutes Format: Multiple-choice, Short answer, Short essay Task Description: The total multiple-choice questions are 5, each worth 2 marks. There will be 5 compulsory short questions, each worth 6 marks. Each short question should be answered in 3 to 5 sentences or several key words. Two short essay questions to be answered (from a choice of three). Each of an essay question should be answered in about a page. An essay is worth 30 marks. Grading system Grade 1-4 1-10 Description in letter scale scale A 4 8.5 – 10 • Excellent analysis, comprehensive research, sophisticated theoretical or methodological understanding, impeccable presentation; • Work that meets all the key assessment criteria and excels in most; • Work that meets these criteria and is also in some way original, exciting or challenging could be awarded marks in the high 8 or above. • Marks of 9 and above may be awarded to the best student work in the range. B 3 7 – 8.49 • Good work that is solidly researched, shows a good understanding of key ideas, demonstrates some use of critical analysis along with good presentation and documentation; • Work that meets most of the key assessment criteria and performs well in some; • Work that shows some room for improvement. C 2 5.5 – • Completion of key tasks at a satisfactory level, with 6.99 demonstrated understanding of key ideas and some analytical skills, and satisfactory presentation, 6
research and documentation; • Work that meets most of the key assessment criteria; • Work that shows room for improvement in several areas. D 1 4 – 5.49 • Completion of key tasks at an adequate level of performance in argumentation, documentation and expression; • Work that meets a limited number of the key assessment criteria; • Work that shows substantial room for improvement in many areas. F 0 1-3.99 • Work that fails to meet the basic assessment criteria; • Work that contravenes the policies and regulations set out for the assessment exercise; • Where a student fails a subject, all failed components of assessment are double marked. Student academic honesty The use of electronic devices (translators, smart phones, ipads, etc.) but not limited to calculators in the exam is forbidden and if you are found using one during an exam we will assume that you are cheating. Please refers to Student Code of conduct for more details (http://tuaf.edu.vn/phongcongtachssv/bai-viet/quyet-dinh-ve-viec-cu-the-hoa-mot-so-noi- dung-vi-pham-va-khung-xu-ly-ky-luat-sinh-vien---ap-dung-trong-truong-dai-hoc-nong-lam- 4258.html). PLAGIARISM will not be tolerated: Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting as one's own original work the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of another. These include published and unpublished documents, designs, music, sounds, images, photographs, computer codes and ideas gained through working in a group. These ideas, interpretations, words or works may be found in print and/or electronic media. EXAMPLES OF PLAGIARISM: 1. Direct copying of paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence; 2. Direct copying of paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence with an end reference but without quotation marks around the copied text; 3. Copying ideas, concepts, research results, computer codes, statistical tables, designs, images, sounds or text or any combination of these; 4. Paraphrasing, summarising or simply rearranging another person's words, ideas, etc without changing the basic structure and/or meaning of the text; 7
5. Offering an idea or interpretation that is not one's own without identifying whose idea or interpretation it is; 6. A 'cut and paste' of statements from multiple sources; 7. Presenting as independent, work done in collaboration with others; 8. Copying or adapting another student's original work into a submitted assessment item. International Program Office Lecturer Signature Signature Dr. Duong Van Thao Nguyen Thi Thu Huong 8