Biosphere 2 Syllabus
Week 2: June 11-June 17, 2001
Key:
Ethics Discussion day:
1 — Ethics of  Reintroducing Species
Full day for working on independent projects

[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday ]
 
Monday, June 11 2001
  Section: B: Biotic Processes
  Module: 4: Growth and Competition: 
Population and Metapopulation Dynamics - Day 1
 
  AM: (5:30-7:00) — Field (B2 Campus) - optional
Exercise 4, Task A: Population Size Estimation
  Join instructors on mammal trap lines.  Mark any captured animals, close traps.
  [Note:  Wear boots, bring gloves]

8:00-11:00 — PC Lab

Exercise 3 Presentations
Exercise 2 Cross-site analysis
Week 1 Wrap-up Discussion: Modules 1-3

11:00-11:30 — 
Lecture 4: Population Biology

  • Factors controlling population growth
  • Measuring populations
  • Populations and conservation biology
  • Ethics Discussion 1 (Ethics of Reintroducing Species): 
    • Assignment of topics
    • Links
11:30-1:00 —
Exercise 4
  Task A: Population Size Estimation
  • Bean population estimation: Mark-Release-Recapture
 
  PM: 1:00-3:00
Lunch / Siesta

3:00-4:00 — PC Lab
Task B: Population Viability Models

  • PVA coin toss model
  • PVA model computer exercise (Wilson & Perlman CD)
4:00-6:00 
Ethics Discussion 1 preparation:
  Individual group discussion/planning sessions

(6:00-8:00) B2 Food Run

(8:30-9:30) — Field (B2 Campus) - optional
Ex 4, Task A:  Reset traps
  [Note:  Wear boots, bring gloves]
Notes: Early morning activity next day, depending on Task A protocol
Ethics discussion coming up next day, afternoon
 
Tuesday, June 12 2001
  Section: B: Biotic Processes
  Module: 4: Growth and Competition: 
Population and Metapopulation Dynamics - Day 2
 
  AM: (5:30-7:00) — Field (B2 Campus) - optional
Join instructors on mammal trap lines.  Mark any captured animals, close traps.
  [Note:  Wear boots, bring gloves]

8:00-10:00 — PC Lab
Exam 1: Modules 1-3 
 Open Notes.  You may refer to your notes and journal — anything you have 
composed yourself.  Not allowed are printouts or extracted material from the web, 
books, and the like.

10:00-12:00 — PC Lab
Exercise 4

  • Task B (con't) — PVA Models
  • GIS and Population Assessments (eBiome/ArcView)
  • Discuss and writeup Task A and B results. 
  • Ex 4 Presentations
12:00-1:00
Ethics discussion group preparation
 
  PM: 1:00-3:00
Lunch / Siesta

3:00-5:00 — Habitat Classroom 
Ethics Discussion 1: Ethics of  Reintroducing Species

(8:30-9:30) — Field (B2 Campus) - optional
Ex 4, Task A:  Reset traps
  [Note:  Wear boots, bring gloves]
Notes: Early start next day
Van pickup
 
Wednesday, June 13 2001
  Section: B: Biotic Processes
  Module: 5: Community Ecology: 
An Introduction to the Players and How to Measure Communities
 
  AM: (5:00-6:00) — Field (B2 Campus) - optional
Join instructors on mammal trap lines.  Mark any captured animals, close/pull traps.
  [Note:  Wear boots, bring gloves]

6:00-10:00 — Field (B2 Campus)
Exercise 5: Herbivory and Plant Diversity
  [Notes: Wear boots & hat. Bring gloves, NHSD book, snack & water. 
  Van available]

10:00-10:30
Lecture 5:  Community Ecology: An Introduction to the Players and 
  How to Measure Communities

10:30-1:00 — PC Lab
Exercise 5 

  • Data entry (eBiome, Excel)
  PM: 1:00-3:00
Lunch / Siesta

3:00-6:00 — PC Lab
Exercise 5

  • Finalize analyses, discuss results, prepare presentations
 
 
 
Thursday, June 14 2001
  Section: B: Biotic Processes
  Module: 6: Producers: The Basis of Ecosystems
 
  AM: 8:00-9:00 — PC Lab
Exercise 5 Presentations

9:00-10:00
Lecture 6:  Producers — The Basis of Ecosystems

  • Ecosystem energetics and material flow — Food webs
  • Producers
  • Controls over primary production
10:00-1:00 — Biosphere2 (Rain Forest Biome)
Exercise 6: Environmental Controls over Photosynthesis — Direct 
Measurement in the B2 Rainforest Mesocosm
  [Notes:  Wear close-toed shoes, bring water — No food]

Guest Lecture: Karen Vitkay
  Use of LI-COR for Ecophysiological Studies
 
  PM: 1:00-3:00
Lunch / Siesta

3:00-5:30 — PC Lab
Exercise 6

  • Data entry (eBiome, Excel)
  • Data analyses, discuss results, prepare presentations
  • Ex 6 Presentations
5:30-6:00
Week 2 Wrap-up Discussion: Modules 4-6

7:00
Class Dinner — Gather at instructor's residence
Guest:  Rod Mondt (B2 Field School Instructor):
   Species Reintroduction
 
Friday, June 15 2001
    Independent Projects 
 
  Notes: Instructors available for assistance with independent projects 
 
Saturday, June 16 2001
    Independent Projects 
 
  Notes: Instructors not available -- Mt. Lemmon field trip prep.
 
Sunday, June 17 2001
    Independent Projects — Intro and Methods Due
 
  PM 7:00pm
Write-up of project Introduction and Methods sections due 
Notes: Instructors available for assistance with independent projects


T. Kittel
rev. 5/27/01, 6/13/01