Description
An intensive field ecology course in which students will gain a working knowledge of flora, fauna, and ecosystem processes associated with streams and rivers. With more than 'A of the learning taking place in the outdoors (in most weather conditions), this field work offers opportunities for students to examine live organisms in their natural habitats and in the laboratory. Group and individual research is conducted. This course is based at the C-GCC Hudson River field-station, and students will hike and sometimes kayak to gain access to the ecosystems along the Hudson River and its tributaries. Both local and distant habitats are studied, as is the human impact on the environment. An appreciation and resilience for natural weather conditions and terrain is advisable.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Student will demonstrate understanding of the methods scientists use to explore natural phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement/data collection, experimentation, evidence evaluation, employment of math analysis; application of scientific data/concepts/models in natural science
- Student will define and describe the scientific method of inquiry, general ecological concepts including food webs, food chains, níches, habitats, lentic and lotic, energy flow and nutrient cycles
- Student will define and describe general properties and characteristics of an estuary, including tides, physical and chemical properties of water, flora and fauna typical of the Hudson River Estuary
- Student will define and describe human impact and the history of human impact on the Hudson River including pollution by PCBs
Semester
Summer
Notes
Meets lab science requirement.