This course familiarizes students with how ecology is used on the ground for conservation. It is structured in two parts: The first part of the class will be dedicated to active hands-on learning where students obtain formal training in broad range of field and lab methods and analyses used in ecological field research. Topics covered include carbon stock measurement, biodiversity assessment, utilization of digital conservation resources, experimental design, sampling methodology, and statistical analysis. The course includes intensive field exercises focused on forest measurements and soil analysis that ecologists use to understand ecosystem function. The second component of the course allows students to use these skills to design, conduct, analyze and present data in the form of a rapid ecological assessment or group research project on a local property of conservation importance.
Prerequisites: BIOL 104 or instructor permission