ECOL313 Ecology Field Course

The techniques of field ecology; sampling strategies, design, procedures and equipment; an initiation to ecological research.

The underlying philosophy of the Ecology Programme is that students learn through the practice of doing research. ECOL 313 is the signature course of the Programme in which students are able to design and undertake a substantial scientific project of their own, in collaboration with academic staff. Examples of recent student projects include such diverse topics as: How do sandhoppers orient themselves on the beach? How many epiphytes do tree ferns support? How do stream flow and sedimentation affect macroinvertebrates? And how do introduced species affect dune plant and invertebrate communities?

Paper title	Ecology Field Course
Paper code	ECOL313
Subject	Ecology
EFTS	0.15
Points	18 points
Teaching period	Semester 1 (6 February 2023 - 21 June 2023) (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD)	$1,141.35
International Tuition Fees	Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.

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Prerequisite

ECOL 211 and ECOL 212 and (STAT 110 or STAT 115)

Schedule C

Science

Notes

(i) This course is intended for third year students majoring in Ecology. However, other students may be admitted at the discretion of the Programme Co-ordinator. (ii) A compulsory field trip will be held prior to the beginning of the semester 8 – 13 February 2022.

Eligibility

Enrolments for this paper require departmental permission. View more information about departmental permission.

Contact

ecology@otago.ac.nz

Teaching staff

Co-ordinator: Dr Matthew Larcombe

Paper Structure

ECOL 313 involves a 7-day live-in field camp where students undertake an independent ecological research project under the guidance of academic staff. Projects can cover a wide range of topics from marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments. Students work in pairs in developing their ideas in collaboration with staff, formulating a research question, and designing and conducting the study over a period of 4-5 days during the camp. After returning to the Dunedin campus, students then work on their research project individually, with tutorials focused on statistical analysis and on communication skills, then present their research in oral and written formats.

Teaching Arrangements

A compulsory field trip will be held prior to the beginning of the semester between 6 - 12 February 2023.

Textbooks

Textbooks are not required for this paper.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

Students will gain experience with the scientific process by carrying out all steps of an independent research project. Students will:

• Research and design a study
• Work in pairs to execute the study during a week-long field camp to the Catlins region of South Island, New Zealand in February
• Analyse their data
• Present the results in oral and written reports

In addition to specific skills they will use in project work, students will develop skills in:

• Experimental design
• Quantitative analyses
• Teamwork
• Critical thinking
• Scientific communication (in both written and oral format)

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