Re: [ECOLOG-L] General textbook for Ecological Experimental Techniques?

[Ryan, James]

Ryan,
If you want a very general text you might try:
Practical Field Ecology, A Project Guide by Wheater eta l. and published by 
Wiley-Blackwell

If you want something specific to vertebrates you could try:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/james-ryan/field-and-laboratory-techniques-in-vertebrate-biology/paperback/product-18944438.html

and then there is Ecological Methodology by Charles Krebs published by Addison 
Wesley Longman (not sure if it’s still in print).

Hope this is a starting point.

Cheers,
Jim


Dr. Jim Ryan
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Biology Department
300 Pulteney Street
Geneva, NY 14456
315-781-3601
r...@hws.edu

From: "Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news" 
 on behalf of Ryan McEwan 
Reply-To: Ryan McEwan 
Date: Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at 8:56 AM
To: "ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU" 
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] General textbook for Ecological Experimental Techniques?

Hi all,

I am hoping that some on the board might have a good recommendation for a text 
on general experimental techniques & field methods in ecology.

Best,
Ryan













Ryan W. McEwan, PhD
Associate Professor of Ecology
Environmental Biology Program Director
Department of Biology
University of Dayton
300 College Park, Dayton, OH  45469-2320

Lab: mcewanlab.org**
Email:  ryan.mce...@udayton.edu
Office phone: 1.937.229.2558
Office Location:  Science Center 223D

**The McEwan Lab supports an inclusive environment that 
respects the dignity of every person regardless of gender, religion, race, 
ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation or other expression of human 
difference. We welcome discourse and intellectual critique but reject 
harassment in all of its forms.

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Loss of field courses, continued

[Ryan, James]

This discussion reminded me of the 2007 paper by Mark Hafner (a fellow 
mammalogist/ecologist) titled “Field research in mammalogy: An enterprise in 
peril (Journal of Mammalogy, 88:1119-1128). In that paper he describes the 
decline of college-level field experiences for future mammalogists. Partly in 
response to that paper, I wrote a field manual for vertebrates that has 56 
field-based exercises for college students. I say field-based, because about 
30% of the exercises can be done in the lab without actually collecting field 
data. These use real world field datasets (available on my website) in place of 
the students actually collecting the data themselves. The main reason for that 
is the recognition that many institutions are in urban environments and have 
limited access to field sites. Nevertheless, students can see how the data was 
collected and then work with that data to analyze patterns and test hypotheses. 
For example, there is a data set of GPS tracking data for grizzly bears in 
Montana and southern Canada. Students can make predictions about bear behavior 
and elevation/habitat in June versus October and plot that data on Google 
Earth, etc.

If any one is interested here is the link to the field manual:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/james-ryan/field-and-laboratory-techniques-in-vertebrate-biology/paperback/product-18944438.html

This may seem like shameless self promotion, but I don’t really make any money 
off the manual. Rather my main goal is to provide people with some ideas for 
field and/or lab exercises  that could be used to train future vertebrate 
biologists. I’m planning on revising the manual again this summer so if any one 
has ideas for me to include, let me know.

Find a detailed Table of Contents here:
http://www.wildmammal.com/page15/
and a link to the datasets here:
http://www.wildmammal.com/downloads.html


--
Dr. Jim Ryan
Biology Department
Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Geneva, NY 14456
Www.wildmammal.com


On 5/18/14, 10:54 AM, "David L. McNeely" 
mailto:mcnee...@cox.net>> wrote:

Jordan mentions another aspect, the decline of courses on particular taxonomic 
groups of organisms.  Those of us old enough to have used (or even taught) the 
Odum ecology text well remember his "layer cake" graphic of the organization of 
biological science. He represented biology as a layer cake, with taxonomic 
groups making up the cake's layers, while "functional studies" such as ecology, 
evolution, and physiology he treated as slices through the whole cake.   Using 
that metaphor, the layers of the cake are missing from the modern biologist's 
education.  How many institutions still offer courses in mammalogy, 
ichthyology, plant systematics, phycology and so on?  Some do, yes, but these 
courses may be disappearing even more than courses with a field focus, much to 
the detriment of those who need or want to learn about a particular group of 
organisms.  I realize that some of the organisms formerly grouped into some 
recognized taxa have been recognized to be members of disparate evolutionary 
lineages, but there is still reason for a prospective marine biologist to know 
the "algae," or a fish and wildlife scientist to know the "fish."  We have the 
odd situation now where people investigate the evolution of a group of 
organisms, without having ever formally studied the group.   Interesting, at 
any rate.

David McNeely

 Jordan Mayor mailto:jma...@ufl.edu>> wrote:
Hi Ling,
I think the onset of this discussion began with it being pointed out that many 
Biology Dept.’s have gone “molecular” or even “nano” and this financial 
refocusing, perhaps combined with increasing enrollment straining class sizes, 
has resulted in a reduced number of field courses being offered.
I have experienced this while a T.A. at a major R1 US university. The 
field-trip-oriented General Ecology course was under constant pressure to 
eradicate field trips so more than 14 students (the maximum # of students that 
could fit on the dept.’s buses) could enroll in a lab section (thus removing a 
T.A.-ship for one ill-fated grad student).  This was thankfully avoided — much 
to the benefit of the students, many of whom have never experienced an 
ecological perspective on the many unique ecosystems FL has to offer (hint: 
it’s not just mangrove and slash pine).
When I was an undergrad I also had direct experience in hitting a “pay wall” 
while trying to increase my field biology experience. OTS and The School for 
Field Studies both offered excellent programs that very much piqued my interest 
but were quashed by my financial reality (loans and part-time jobs).  In the 
end I very much enjoyed field trips and eventually found paid summer field 
experience chasing birds around on an undergraduate professor’s research grant.
I think another big issue, besides the reduction in field trips in Ecology 
courses, is the general loss of taxonomist positions at universities.  Taxonomy 
courses (plant tax, mycology, 

Re: [ECOLOG-L] help with ecology lab manual

[Ryan, James]

Chris,

I'm not sure if this will meet your needs, but I wrote a vertebrate field 
manual. Obviously it focuses on animals, but it does include 56 exercises that 
can be done in the field or in the classroom (if weather is poor). There are 9 
chapters and you can see a detailed table of contents at the link below (just 
click on the word Preview - below the cover image.)

http://www.lulu.com/shop/james-ryan/field-and-laboratory-techniques-in-vertebrate-biology/paperback/product-18944438.html


I've been using it for the last few years here and the students seem to like 
the combination of field exercises and computer-based analysis. It's a 
"print-on-demand" book so I don't have desk copies. The "Print-on-demand" keeps 
costs down for students.

As I said, it may not be what you are looking for since it doesn't have a lot 
of vegetation analysis, but see what you think.

Cheers,

Jim

--
Dr. Jim Ryan

Biology Department
Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Geneva, NY 14456
Www.wildmammal.com



On 6/3/13 11:30 PM, "Chris Lortie" mailto:lor...@yorku.ca>> 
wrote:

Dear Ecolog,

I am teaching 2nd year ecology at my university this fall. I have taught it a 
few times now,
but I would really like to revise the labs. Here is my lab manual:

http://figshare.com/articles/Ecology_Lab_Manual_2nd_year_course_/710650

and on slideshare in case you prefer that site:

http://www.slideshare.net/cjlortie/lortie-ecology-lab-manual

Please use it if you can.  If need the the leaf keys, I can direct you to them 
(ie if you are
near Southern Ontario).

I have used pattern primarily but would love to move to testing/teaching 
ecological
processes more directly. I would also like to add a few online labs too.

Any input appreciated. If you have a lab manual, single specific experimental 
labs, or
resources you could direct me to, that would be super.

cheers
chris lortie.

[ECOLOG-L] New Vertebrate Field Manual available

[Ryan, James]

Announcing “Field and Laboratory Techniques in Vertebrate Biology” a new text 
for field courses in Vertebrate Biology, Wildlife Biology, Ecology, 
Conservation Biology. With over 50 exercises for students in 9 chapters, this 
manual will introduce students to many of the modern field techniques used by 
today’s biologists. Pick up your copy today at 
Lulu.com
 for only $35.00.

This manual is distributed solely through Lulu.com, a print-on-demand service. 
When a student or bookstore orders a copy on line at 
Lulu.com,
 the book is printed and shipped. This keeps costs down for students.

A pdf brochure is attached and a detailed list of the exercises is provided 
below.

Please consider adopting this manual for your course or pass along a brochure 
to other faculty who may teach appropriate course.



Table of Contents

Introduction 
.1

Chapter1 Monitoring Fish Populations .11
Collecting Fish in Wadeable Streams
Measuring, Aging, and Sexing Fish
Identifying Fish Using a Dichotomous Key
Voucher Specimens and Preservation Techniques
Stream Channel Assessment
Measuring Stream Discharge
Stream Habitat Assessment
Water Chemistry Characteristics
Relative Abundance and Catch per Unit Effort (CPE)
Length-Weight and Condition Relationships
Species Diversity and Community Similarity

Chapter 2 Monitoring Herptofauna 45
Visual Encounter Surveys (VES)
Amphibian Auditory Surveys
Artificial Cover Surveys
Terrestrial Drift Fences and Pitfall Traps
Aquatic Surveys - Dip-netting and Kick Sampling
Basking Surveys and Funnel Trapping
Species Diversity Using EstimateS
Using PRESENCE to Estimate Occupancy
Analysis of Frog Call Data

Chapter 3 Monitoring Bird Populations 77
Timed Point Counts
Strip Transects
Sampling Habitat Structure
Territory Mapping and Nest Densities
Mist Netting
Audio Recording and Playback
Avian Diversity and Habitat Trends
Estimating Density from Transect Data
Using the Breeding Bird Database

Chapter 4 Monitoring Mammal Populations .107
Using Track Plates for Small Carnivores
Live-Trapping Small Mammals
Camera Trapping
Hair Trapping Surveys
Analyzing Grid Trapping Data
Analyzing Camera Trap Data
Using CAPTURE for Camera Trap Data
Analyzing Mammalian Hairs
Quantifying Hair Structure Using ImageJ Software
Extracting DNA from Hair Samples

Chapter 5 Mark-Recapture Studies 
147
Single Mark-Recapture (Lincoln-Petersen Method)
The Schnabel Method
The Jolly-Seber Model Using Excel

Chapter 6 Mark-Recapture Using CAPTURE and JOLLY Software.167
Using the Program CAPTURE
Tigers in India
Using the Program JOLLY

Chapter 7 GPS Tracking Using Google Earth & Movebank ..183
Tracking Grizzlys with Google Earth and GPSVisualizer
Exploring Movebank GPS Data

Chapter 8 Recording and Analyzing Animal Sounds ...197
Field Recording
Sound Analysis Using AUDACITY
Playback Experiments Using Alarm Calls

Chapter 9 Quantifying Animal Behavior ..213
Building an Ethogram
Sampling Behaviors
Creating a Time Budget
Creating a Transition Diagram
Creating a Dominance Hierarchy
Dominance Hierarchy Analysis

Instructor Resources 
...227

[ECOLOG-L] New Mammalogy Lab/Field Manual

[Ryan, James]

Those of you teaching Mammalogy, Wildlife Biology, or Field Ecology courses may 
be interested in a new lab/field manual

Mammalogy Techniques Manual $29.99

Available only online at:
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/mammalogy-techniques-manual/14256680?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/2

For additional information see:
http://www.wildmammal.com/manual.html

Mammalogy Techniques Manual is a lab and field techniques manual for students 
studying mammalogy. The manual includes 14 chapters covering topics such as 
radio and GPS tracking, mark and recapture studies, camera trapping studies, 
optimal foraging, behavioral studies, among others. Each chapter includes a 
series of exercises for students to complete along with background information, 
sample data sets, and detailed descriptions of software (mostly Open Source) 
used to complete the exercise.

14 Chapters
293 pages
151 Figures
30 Tables