Biology 373L
Field Ecology

Click here to visit course website

Biology 373L was first offered in fall 2000 and is still evolving through feedback from participants. One important goal of the course is to provide students with hands-on experience with important sub-disciplines of ecology through group and individual projects and observations conducted primarily on the 90 acres of BFL. Because familiarity with organisms and their habitats is fundamental to making astute observations, asking non-trivial questions and developing ecological hypotheses, we spend considerable time doing collecting and identifications of common species and observations of habits and habitats of the biota. Field problems acquaint students with approaches to studying distribution and abundance of sedentary and mobile organisms, behavioral ecology, community ecology and diversity, and ecosystem processes. In the early part of the course we incorporate some of the most basic and useful tools for mapping, measuring and monitoring ecological phenomena and cover basic methods of analysis. Later students will be expected to apply some of these approaches to their independent projects. Data collected by previous courses will be available so that students can add to past knowledge about the field station.

Student Comments:

“This class was a lot of work but I feel like I have gained a lot also. This class has been invaluable for my writing skills and ability to make valuable and insightful observations about the natural world.”

“Although this class had a lot of work, I think it has been once of the most educational classes I have taken and the things I learned in this class will be put to use in the real world, not just the classroom.”

“Dr Gilbert was one of the best professors I have had at UT. He inspired the class with an appreciation for ecology, especially our local habitats. He effectively explained the realistic role of ecology in our society, especially when it came to conservation. I have learned to look at nature in a new way. The course has enhanced my appreciate for the delicate nature of our ecosystems.”

“This course has benefited me more than any other course I have taken at UT, for the job field I would like to pursue.”

“I really enjoyed this lab, it exposed me to concepts and issues I was unfamiliar with. This lab is not like my regular cookbook labs. It really forced me to think!”

“I really enjoyed the course. I would have liked to do a night lecture at BFL in addition to everything else. Heavy workload but really worth the experience!”

“This was my favorite field course – and my hardest.”

“Excellent course which taught me more about natural history than any book could.”

“The learning curve in this class is extremely high, and the hands-on experience is invaluable.”

“This course has been of more value to me than any other course I’ve had at UT.”

“I learned so much and this course has renewed my interest in the field!”

“This course was very difficult and time-consuming. That said, I have learned more from this course than any other in 4 years at UT.”

“Great course, it’s too bad there aren’t more like it.”