Participants will explore the diversity of life through an investigation of representative ecosystems found in the northeast U.S. with an emphasis on the northern hardwood forest and one of its best known inhabitants, the sugar maple. They will begin with field studies into particular habitats and compare biodiversity among habitats. Initial observations of the organisms themselves, including classification to the kingdom level, will lead to a study of how organisms are organized into populations, communities, and ecosystems. In the final unit, participants will draw from their experiences studying diversity in habitats and populations to explore communities, ecosystems, and succession. Throughout the semester, participants will be organized into groups that share observations, conduct investigations, and create presentations online. They will be continuously engaged in hands-on activities, adaptable for use with middle-school students.

Instructors

Steven Brewer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, BCRC Director, Department of Biology
University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
http://www.bio.umass.edu/bcrc/sb.html
sbrewer@bio.umass.edu

Buzz Hoagland, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Biology
Westfield State College
http://biology.wsc.ma.edu/hoagland/
bhoagland@foma.wsc.ma.edu

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