ENSC 265 Environmental Science Field Methods

Students will gain practical field experience, with online and face-to-face instruction, using protocols to collect scientific environmental data, particularly in wetlands, and on endangered, threatened, and invasive species in various environmental settings. Students also explore monitoring, mitigation, and restoration in these areas. They will work side by side with collaborating resource professionals.

Credits

4

Prerequisite

Recommended: ENSC 181 or BI 223B

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Describe and classify wetlands, invasive and threatened and endangered (T & E) species by ecological criteria and observed conditions including hydro-geomorphology, using scientific protocols
2. Describe wetlands' ecosystem services and the impacts of invasive species
3. Infer important hydrological processes acting at a particular site, based on site observations including infiltration, evapotranspiration, soil water storage, drainage, and seasonal water budget
4. From direct observations, infer mechanisms for presence of wetland, invasive and T and E species on site, and form testable hypotheses
5. With the aid of direct observations, explain the role of soil and vegetation in the management and quality of water on a wetland site
6. Implement basic field standards, including use of field and mathematical skills, tools, and interpretation of measurements fundamental to watersheds in the performance of T-&-E, wetlands and invasive-species surveys and assessment
7. Summarize best management practices commonly used to conserve T & E species and designate critical habitat, to assess invasive and wetland species and habitat, including communicating clearly with peers
8. Effectively utilize appropriate library and other information resources to research professional issues and support lifelong learning and job advancement
9. Analyze data and draw supportable conclusions regarding Earth's interconnected systems in wetlands
10. Provide an interdisciplinary perspective that builds understanding of wetland-related sustainable ecological, social, and economic systems, concern for environmental justice, and the competence to act on such knowledge
11. Describe the dynamic nature of wetland and ecological systems, and human interactions with those systems in environmental science and ecology