Field Ecology: An Experimental Approach

This course provides an introduction to methods in field ecology, with an emphasis on rigorous experimental design, hypothesis testing, data collection, introductory data analysis, and presenting results. The ability to pose clear questions, state hypotheses, and design appropriate experiments to test these hypotheses is of fundamental importance in all research disciplines; this course takes advantages of challenges in field ecology to address these essential topics. We will use formal lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on learning in the field and computer lab, including field data collected during the laboratory time, as examples to learn the fundamental concepts that are essential for designing effective experiments. This course will provide students with the skills to design and conduct experiments to address basic and applied ecological questions.