Instructors: Dr. Stephen C. Lougheed (Queen’s), Dr. Grégory Bulté (Carleton) and Dr. Jeff Row (Waterloo).
Location: Queen’s University Biological Station
Dates: Sunday April 30th – Saturday May 13th, 2017
Synopsis: This course provides students with insights on: 1) the natural history of Ontario amphibians and reptiles, 2) the evolutionary ecology of amphibians and reptiles, 3) conservation issues (local and global) of these two vertebrate groups, 4) methods for censusing of reptile and amphibian diversity, and 5) hypothesis testing, experimental design and data analysis. Student seminars, class discussions, and lectures will be complemented by “hands-on” field exercises and excursions to multiple locales near QUBS and some more remote. Students will pose and test hypotheses and implement field studies focused on amphibians and reptiles, and learn various techniques for analysis of field data. Students should be fit, as hiking on hilly trails is involved.
Evaluation:
- Field notebook recording field observations, weather conditions, data from field practica, data from group projects (20%)
- 15-minute seminar based on readings done prior to the course (reference citations provided in advance) (20%)
- Quiz (10%)
- Participation in class discussions field exercises, public outreach exercise (15%)
- Final report (10 pages) based upon data from group projects to be submitted 4 weeks after the course. (35%)
Ecology of Amphibians & Reptiles 