MNS 123: Field Biology: Methods of Inquiry
David Beresford, PhD Biology

Location: at the St. Thomas More Field Station, 1707 Country Road 4, Lakefield Ontario, K0L 2H0. Telephone: (705) 652-7452

Dates: August 5 to August 20, 2007

Cost: CA$1,070, all inclusive

Registration: call (613) 756-3082

This course will introduce students to the methods of biological inquiry with a focus on experimental design and the scientific method, data collection and assessment, and reporting. As part of their work, students will present the results of their research to their classmates, and prepare a report following research journal format.

Students will also prepare a collection of insects, a herbarium study of local wildflowers, and participate in a forensic entomology study.

Lecture topics will include:
o the place of deduction and induction in biology
o the classification of life
o mean and variance in biological systems
o the behaviour of individuals
o populations as an aggregate of individuals
o populations as a unit of measurement
o models of populations and movement

Labs will consist of mark-recapture analysis of movement (caddisflies), nearest neighbour analysis of distribution (cedars), micro-habitat differences in lichen, differences in male and female morphology of crayfish (O. rusticus).

For seminars, students will bring to the group journal articles on the various lecture topics for discussion. The print journals available for use are: Canadian Journal of Botany, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Canadian Entomologist, Environmental Entomology, Journal of Economic Entomology, and Ecological Monographs.

Assessment:
lab report 10%
seminars 10%
presentation 5%
research project report 40%
Midterm test 10%
Final exam 25%

The final exam will be 3 hours, including a lab component for identification to class and/or order, depending upon the taxa.

Schedule

Monday to Friday

8:00 – 9:30 lecture
9:45–12:00 research hike, experiments/seminars
12:00 – 1:00 lunch
1:00 – 2:30 lecture
2:30 – 6:00 lab work/research project/journal research project/collection preparation
8:00 – 10:00 independent study/report writing

Saturday
8:00 – 9:00 midterm test9:00 – 12:00 field work, lab reports
12:00 – 1:00 lunch
1:00 – 5:00 field work, lab report,
6:30 – 7:30 supper

Sundays are free days:
schedule: 10:00 – 12:00 Mass, 12:00 – 2:00 brunch, 6:00 – 7:30 supper

Dr. Beresford will be available for working with each student and their projects during this day and evenings.

There will two day trips, which will include the normal allotment of times, once to a forest (Burnham's woods) and one canoe trip (Indian River). The class will be accompanied on this trip by a Canadian Life Saving Society life-guard. Each student MUST wear a life jacket whenever on the water.

Equipment provided includes: insect nets, dissecting and compound microscope, field guides and identification keys, water collecting nets, mounting pins and herbarium mounts.

For recreation, there is an extensive library of Chesterton, Belloc, P G Wodehouse, and lots of field guides. This will be an intensive course of study, so come ready to learn!

NB! Bring sunscreen, footwear suitable for hiking and getting wet, mosquito repellent if you wish, your personal kit, notebooks, and pencils. The field station is located about 5 miles east of Lakefield Ontario at the south east corner of County Roads 4 and 6 (Peterborough County).