Course Offerings
The following courses will be taught by nationally recognized researchers/educators. They include both classroom and field experience and will be held at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. They can be taken for credit or personal enrichment. Enroll online via the Course Registration form found here.
Courses
May 12-23: Field Study of Birds
Ken Anderson, Gannon University
Undergraduate Credit or RSC Certificate
Time: 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Cost: Gannon Tuition (credit) or RSC fee (certificate)
Workshops
June 10-12: Introduction to Entomology
Lisa Danko, Mercyhurst College
RSC Certificate
Time: 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Cost: $100.00
June 20: Real-time PCR
Steve Mauro, Mercyhurst College
RSC Certificate
Time: 8:00-5:00
Cost: $100.00
June: Molecular Epidemiology of Tick-borne Pathogens
Christopher Keller, LECOM
RSC Certificate
Time: TBA
Cost: $150.00
Course Syllabus
July 14-18: Introduction to Bivalves of the Upper Ohio River
and Lake Erie Region
Darran Crabtree, The Nature Conservancy,
Allegheny College
RSC Certificate
Time: M (12:30-5:30), TWR (8:00-5:00),
F (8:00-2:00)
Cost: $150.00
**See below for more details on each Course/Workshop
Course Syllabus
Field Study of Birds
2 credits – Undergraduate*
Instructor: Kenneth W. Andersen, Ph. D.
E-mail: andersen@gannon.edu
Gannon University
Dates: May 12-23, 2008
Hours: 8:00-11:00 am
Classroom: Room 133, Tom Ridge Environmental Center
For Credit: Please register through Gannon University
For Certificate: Please register through the Regional Science Consortium**
Course Objective: This course is for students with little or no prior experience in birding. It is designed to introduce the student to the study of the life of birds through observations. The first class period (3 hr) is used to provide information on bird anatomy, classification, means of field identification and other aspects of their general biology. The remaining class periods are spent in the field where students learn to identify local species and to observe behavior and habitat usage. Students also learn to recognize the songs of many of them. This course is especially designed to teach the student how to effectively use a field guide and to become aware of characters that assist in identifying birds in their habitats.
A typical day in the field will begin by traveling to a birding area. Presque Isle State Park and Erie Bluffs State Park will be the primary areas used. At each observation site students will observe and describe the general habitat and make note of environmental factors, such as weather, that may affect bird activity. As individual birds are seen the students will be encouraged to look for appropriate markings to aid in identification and then will be instructed to make an identification based on a field guide. The instructor will draw attention to identification marks but generally will not verify identification of the bird until the students have made a reasonable attempt. Each student will keep a field journal, recording observations on ecology, behavior, etc. For each species identified the student will complete a species account sheet which will be provided by the instructor.
Grading:
Exams: Two exams of equal weight will be given. The first, given on Friday of week one will cover information on anatomy, topography and other information provided to the students on the first day of class. Another part of the exam will include identification of birds from pictures and in the field. The final exam, given on the last class day, will include picture and field identifications and test for knowledge of some classification and song recognition. Knowledge of the biology and habitat requirements of common species will also be tested.---40% of final grade
Journals: Each student will keep a daily journal of their birding activities. Preferably this will be recorded in electronic form but may be hand written. Detail of the expected content of the journal will be provided on the first day of classes.—30% of final grade
Species Sheets: On the first day of classes each student will be provided with sheets on which information on individual species observed in the field can be recorded. These sheets will be kept in a three-ring binder and periodically shown to the instructor to evaluate. The instructor emphasizes that journals and species sheets are kept primarily for the benefit of the student as sources of information long after the course is over.—25% of final grade
Participation: Each student is expected to attend class daily. Because of the nature of class it is difficult to “make up” class time and only in extenuating situations will there be any consideration to allow it. Appropriate conduct for class participation will be discussed on the first day of class.—5% of final grade
Materials:
§ Binoculars (Students are encouraged to bring their own 7 or 8 power binoculars, if unavailable a 7X35 binocular will be provided.)
§ Pocket Notebook and Pencils++
§ Three-ring Binder++
§ Field Guides++ (Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America by Peterson is
preferred)
§ Journals (a printed copy to be provided to the instructor; 8.5X11 size)
§ Species Account Sheets (provided by the instructor; students provides 3-ring
binder)
§ Bird Song CD (Common Birds and Their Songs, by Elliott and Read is optional)
§ Field Gear (appropriate clothing, e.g., no sandals, will be discussed at first class)
Instructor Credentials: Dr. Andersen is a Professor Emeritus of Biology at Gannon University. He earned a doctorate degree in biology from the University in New Mexico and has taught over thirty years at various institutions of higher education. His teaching and research experiences have been in the area of vertebrate natural history. He presently is the director of the Science in Motion Program at Gannon University. His interest in watching birds has a long history, which includes maintaining a backyard habitat for numerous song birds.
*Two optional extend periods will be determined on the first day of classes to allow visits to more distant areas of birding interest.
++To be purchased by the student.
Bibliography
Elliot, L. and M. Read. 1998. Common birds and their songs. Houghton Mifflin Co.
Kaufman, K. 2000. Birds of North America. Houghton Mifflin.
McWilliams, G. M. and J. H. Stull. 1992. Checklist of birds recorded in Erie County, Pennsylvania: including Presque Isle State Park
Peterson, R. T. and V. M. Peterson. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin Co.
Stull, J., 1965 (2nd ed.), Finding birds on Presque Isle. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
*May also be taken as a non-credit certificate course through the Regional Science Consortium
** www.RegSciConsort.com
Workshop Descriptions
Real-time PCR
This one-day workshop will provide a hands-on experience for anyone with a general science background interested in learning more about real-time PCR. Topics to be covered include: theory behind PCR and real-time PCR, potential uses for real-time PCR, purification of DNA from various sources (water, soil, tissue, etc.), designing DNA primers, performing a real-time PCR reaction, and analysis of results obtained from a real-time reaction. You need not have a background in molecular biology for this course to be applicable to you!
Molecular Epidemiology of Tick-borne Pathogens
This workshop will address infectious organisms of specific importance to Presque Isle and molecular biological techniques, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The epidemiology (including at-risk groups and transmission), clinical signs and symptoms, and preventive techniques of infectious diseases of particular interest to Presque Isle and the surrounding communities (e.g., Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, MRSA, E. coli, and West Nile Virus) will be discussed in detail. In addition, field research in the collection and identification of ticks that carry human diseases, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, will be conducted on Presque Isle. The field-based studies will be followed by laboratory techniques, such as DNA isolation and PCR amplification of possible tick-borne pathogens.
Required Materials: Light-colored pants, a long-sleeved, light-colored shirt, white socks, and light-colored shoes
Cancellation procedures: The field-based portion of the course is dependent upon the weather. If the weather does not permit the field-based activities, substitute activities will be provided.
Course Expectations and Policies:
The course will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Field studies will take place in the afternoon of the second day, so please bring appropriate clothing, i.e., light-colored pants, a long-sleeved, light-colored shirt, white socks, and light-colored shoes. To receive the certificate, participants must be present at all sessions of the course.
Faculty Information:
Christopher C. Keller, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Director, Laboratory of Human Pathogens
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Intro to the Bivalves of the Upper Ohio River and Lake Erie Region
Course Description:
The overall objective is to introduce the basic biology, taxonomy, and ecology of freshwater bivalves. We will focus on native species but non-natives will be discussed. By the end of the class the student should have a basic familiarity with: the major taxonomic groups of bivalves found in the region, the life histories of the major groups, the ecological roles they play in both aquatic and terrestrial systems, current efforts to conserve and manage these animals, and how to identify some of the most common taxa to species. This is a field-based course so techniques of collecting and estimating populations will also be introduced.
Meeting Times:
July 14-18, 2008
This will be a one-week, field and lab intensive course (with some minimal lectures) meeting from 8:30am – 5pm (sometimes a little later). Our first meeting will be at the Tom Ridge Center; an itinerary will be provided for the remainder of the week.
Materials:
Most class time will be outside so students should prepare for the elements (sunscreen, bug repellant, water, snacks, proper footwear, hat, etc.). For some of the class time we will be in or under the water so bathing suits (wetsuits preferred), masks and snorkels, dive boots (or good underwater sandals or old tennis shoes) are required. Dive gloves may also be useful to some individuals.
I will provide reference materials for use during the class. If students would like a list of suggested reading material ahead of the first meeting time, please contact the instructor.
Class Size:
16 students
Grading:
Grades will be based on a field practical (50%) and a collection (50%). The field practical will integrate some of the lecture material (e.g., ecological and natural history aspects of the specimen).
Instructor Credentials:
Dr. Crabtree is Director of Conservation Science for Central and Western New York and Pennsylvania Chapters of The Nature Conservancy. He has a doctorate degree in environmental biology (focus on aquatic ecology) from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University. His past experiences include system and population level evaluations of lakes, fishes and macroinvertebrates, and instructing aquatic entomology and zoology.
Day One
Meet at RSC discuss course itinerary, responsibilities, and initial lecture to introduce the general taxonomic groups of freshwater bivalves and some of the specific species that we will study. Spend the remainder of the day in the field (collecting, identifying, and practicing sampling techniques).
Day Two
Meet at RSC in morning for brief lecture on mussel anatomy and function in the ecosystem, leave for field for remainder of day (collecting, identifying, and practicing sampling techniques).
Day Three
Meet at RSC in morning for brief lecture on sampling techniques and design for assessing populations, leave for field for remainder of the day, practice qualitative techniques (collecting and practicing sampling techniques).
Day Four
Meet at RSC in morning for brief lecture on conservation status and management of freshwater bivalves, leave for field for remainder of the day, practice quantitative sampling.
Day Five
Meet at RSC to discuss the past week’s activities and then leave for the field practical. Return by 5pm.