Applied Field Ecology Maymester

Seeking hands-on field experience in applied ecology through a brief residency on the Georgia coast? During this new Maymester course, students will examine current ecological and technological approaches used to measure ecological processes and human disturbances. Students will have hands-on field experiences with traditional and cutting-edge techniques in ecology and geography. Course modules will involve the use of technology in ecology (e.g., GIS, mapping, drones) and how the advances in these techniques are transforming how ecologists study ecosystems and apply this science to managing coastal habitats. Students will also learn about the behind-the-scene challenges of applied ecology through field exercises and practitioner lectures on case studies about habitat management, restoration, and urban planning. Lectures will be interactive and provided from UGA faculty in addition to different practitioners of coastal ecology, management, and planning. Students will network with local stakeholders, experts, and professionals to learn about the range of career paths in ecology. Students will stimulate their critical thinking skills and practice communication strategies with various stakeholder and scientific professional groups to learn how to gain exposure and value for the ecological sciences in today’s society.

 

Program Location

Center for Research and Education at Wormsloe – Savannah, GA

Program Director and Course Leaders

Kimberly Andrews
UGA Odum School of Ecology


Marguerite Madden
UGA Center for Geospatial Research, Department of Geography


Additional Course Leaders & Instructors:


Sarah Ross
UGA College of Environment & Design


Thomas Jordan
UGA Department of Geography



C. Ronald Carroll
UGA Odum School of Ecology


Shannon Healy
Teaching Assistant
UGA Department of Geography

Academic Program

 ECOL 3520: Applied Field Ecology
 Credits: 4

 Meets the Requirements of:
  - Experiential Learning for ECOL, GEOG, and BIOL students
  - Methods for ECOL

 Contributes to requirements for the GIScience, Sustainability, and Environmental Ethics Certificate Programs.

 Pre-requisites: ECOL 3300 or 3500 or FANR 3200 or GEOG 1111 or 2011 or Permission of Department.
 

Housing and Meals

Program Costs

Program fees will include all transportation and food for the course.  See Cost of Attendance sheet at the top of this page for more details.  

Program Itinerary

May 14th      Depart for the coast
May 15th      Welcome and site orientation
May 16th      Cultural landscape and past land use history, archaeology
May 17th      Ecological landscape of coastal habitats: uplands, marsh, and marine
May 18th      Monitoring wildlife: aquatic species – terrapin surveys and sampling
May 19th      Monitoring wildlife: aquatic species – freshwater sampling
May 20th      Monitoring wildlife: terrestrial species and field methods
May 21st      Managing wildlife and conflict resolution in human-dominated areas
May 22nd     Altered and multi-use landscapes; Backyard habitats and pollinators
May 23rd      Habitat restoration in longleaf pine systems
May 24th      Engineering and infrastructure designs in coastal landscapes
May 25th      Climate change and coastal conservation
May 26th      Student Project I work day and due date
May 27th      No class - Memorial Day
May 28th      Intro to geospatial tools and landscape ecology (concepts and foundations)
May 29th      Intro to geospatial tools and landscape ecology (mapping software)
May 30th      Spatial methods in coastal geography
May 31st      Introduction to drones
June 1st       Field exercise: vegetation measurements and mapping
June 2nd      Mapping and analysis of field lab
June 3rd      Student Project II work day and due date
June 4th      Prep/study day
June 5th      Student final presentations
June 6th      Closing remarks and return to Athens