SEE-U 2000: Black Rock Forest - Module 1:Exercise 1

## General Methadology for Instructors and TAs

## Exercise 1: Global Biomes and Introduction to Recent Technology
Module 1: Introduction to Global Biomes

1. During the morning lecture, instructor expands on the biological basis of local and global biome variability, focusing heavily on regional and global biodiversity.
   - Review the findings of the previous days and place them in the greater context of the diversity of both EDF and other biomes. If possible, incorporate data from other SEE-U programs, as well as published measures of biodiversity in other biomes. If time permits, discuss non-species based measures of diversity (e.g. community or landscape diversity)
   - Discuss the independent research projects that they will have to do this semester. Bring up some potential projects.
2. Activity A: Introduction to GPS
   - Students are shown how to use handheld GPS units. A brief orienteering session is held to acquaint students with navigating with maps and GPS units.
   - Students meet with Dr. Gompper for a brief overview of radiotelemetry and raccoon ecology at BRF.
   - Students assist Dr. Gompper in locating raccoon dens using radiotelemetry, and in gaining a GPS locality of the den for later GIS work. Students are asked to hypothesize about ideal raccoon denning habitat.
3. Activity B: Introduction to GIS
   - Students are introduced to GIS theory, the software program ArcView, and ArcView maps of BRF
   - Students enter GPS localities into ArcView format, for overlay on BRF maps and data analysis.
4. Review hypothesis testing, using the following example
   - Hypotheses to test
     - Raccoons prefer a particular habitat for denning.
   - Independent variables in the experiment
     - Activity B: habitat type (e.g. slope, proximity to water, dominant tree species in area)
   - Dependent variables that they could use in their experimental design:
     - Activity B: den locality
5. Students will be evaluated by having them write up two short lab reports in large groups.
   - Report 1 will be no longer than 3 pages and should include analyses of the global measures of biodiversity as a function of biome diversity. Report 2 will be no longer than 3 pages and should include analyses of raccoon habitat use.