Spring 2010

SCIE 636
The Natural History of Spring

Hammerson,Geoffrey

04/19/2010 - 04/23/2010
Note: Special Schedule 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Science Tower 137

In this field course, we focus on ecological relationships and life history events characteristic of early spring, a time when winter quiescence gives way to a period of intense growth and activity in plants and animals. Some of the organisms and phenomena to be observed and discussed include: early spring flora, patterns of plant growth and flowering, life histories of spring-flying butterflies and other insects, bird migration and breeding behavior, and the ecology of vernal pools. Emphasis is on increasing our understanding of nature through first-hand field experience.

Course requirements include five detailed reports summarizing class field trips and an individual field project.

Course tuition: $2022.

Enrollment is limited to 18. This course is not open to auditors.

A syllabus for this course is available at:
Course Syllabus

Immersion courses are worth three units of credit and are academically as rigorous as a regular term course, only the class meetings are compressed into a very short time. Students interested in immersion courses should be aware that the syllabus usually requires that students prepare for up to a month prior to the first class meeting and complete assignments in the weeks following the course. Please click here for more information about immersion courses.


Geoffrey Hammerson (B.S. University of California, Berkeley; Ph.D. University of Colorado, Boulder) is a research zoologist at NatureServe and is author of more than 70 reports and publications, most recently, The status of the world's land and marine mammals: Diversity, Threat and Knowledge . (Science, 2008). Click here to read an article about Geoff and his GLS courses.

ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

Consent of Instructor Required: No

Format: Field Studies

Level: GLSP Credits: 3 Enrollment Limit: 18

Texts to purchase for this course:
Hammerson, Geoffrey, CONNECTICUT WILDLIFE: BIODIVERSITY, NATURAL HISTORY, AND CONSERVATION, (University Press of New England)

READING MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE AT BROAD STREET BOOKS, 45 BROAD STREET, MIDDLETOWN, 860-685-7323 Order your books online

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