Itasca courses are open to domestic or international graduate and undergraduate students of
any accredited college or university, as well as to others with continuing education objectives.
Course credits are transferable to most colleges and universities. We welcome
students from around the United States and the world. Instruction is
in English, so competency in the English language is required.
The 2010 Field Biology Session runs Thursday, May 27 through Tuesday, June 29. Mandatory Orientation Night is Wednesday, May 26. Courses meet for 3, 4 or 5 weeks. See class schedule for details.
Enrolled students and faculty are required to attend orientation at 7:00 p.m. on May 26. This short session provides general information about the IBSL, and summarizes health and safety issues surrounding the facility as well as student behavior.
M/Th plus 2 additional days TBA; 4 cr; limited to 20 students; prereq. course in plant biology and/or animal biology; A/F only; Leif Hembre
We will explore principles of population growth, species interactions, and ecosystem functioning through a combination of field laboratories, lectures, and discussion of primary literature. Field laboratories will investigate aspects of terrestrial (prairie & forests) and aquatic (lakes, streams, wetlands) ecology. Meets from May 27 to June 28 (5 weeks).
T/F plus 2 additional days TBA; 4 cr; limited to 20 students; prereq. course in beginning biology; A/F only; Brian Wisenden
This course is a survey of animal behavior with emphasis on field-based behavioral ecology, evolutionary function of behavior, and an experimental approach to the study of animal behavior. Each class begins with a short lecture followed by a field experiment in which we test an aspect of animal behavior taken from the lecture topic of the day. As part of the course, each student conducts their own independent research project on animal behavior. Meets from May 28 to June 29 (5 weeks).
T/F plus 1 additional day TBA; 3 cr; limited to 20 students; prereq. course in beginning biology or instructor consent; A/F only; Don Rubbelke
Field photography techniques for documentation of insects, vertebrates, aquatic organisms, and habitats of the Itasca area. Emphasis on general photographic principles and some applied techniques using digital still cameras and video. Additional components of the class can involve flash, reversed lenses, and infra-red photoelectric tripping devices. No previous photographic experience is necessary but this can be helpful. Meets from May 28 to June 22 (4 weeks).
M/Th; 3 cr; limited to 20 students; A/F only; prereq.course in general botany, plant biology or instructor consent; Stephen Saupe
Systematics of the flowering plants of the world. Ecology, geography, origins, and evolution of flowering plants; family characteristics; floral structure, function, and evolution; pollination biology; methods of phylogenetic reconstruction; molecular evolution; taxonomic terms; methods of collection and identification. Meets from May 27 to June 28 (5 weeks).
M/Th; 2 cr; limited to 20 students; A/F only; Larry Kuechle / Jon Ross
Use of radio-telemetry to study animal behavior, especially movements and the use of space. Basic features of radio transmission, transmitters, and receivers relevant to bio-telemetry, safe and humane methods for capture and immobilization of animals for radio-tagging; techniques for attachment of transmitters, locating radio-tagged animals; use of maps, GIS and positioning systems, processing data from radio-fixes; telemetry of further behavioral and physiological information. Meets from May 27 to June 14 (3 weeks).
T/F plus 2 additional days TBA; 4 cr; limited to 20 students; prereq. course in beginning biology; A/F only; Joseph Whittaker
An introduction to the study of mammals. Class research projects will teach some of the standard techniques for studying mammals in the field while giving students experience in designing research projects, performing field work, analyzing data, and writing scientific papers. Laboratory work will include classification, anatomy, and natural history of mammals, with an emphasis on the mammals of Minnesota. Lecture topics emphasize mammalian diversity, evolution, ecology, and behavior. Meets from May 28 to June 29 (5 weeks).
M/Th plus 2 additional days TBA; 4 cr; limited to 20 students; prereq. course in general biology or instructor consent; A/F only; Muir Eaton
Emphasis on field methods used by ornithologists including censusing, mist-netting, experiments on nest depredation, techniques for identification, song analysis, and behavioral anlaysis of birds in the Itasca Park region. Meets from May 27 to June 28 (5 weeks).
