BIOL 309/509 Sec. 1: Field Biology of the Pacific Coast and
Great Basin Desert, 2014
Co-instructors:
Dr. Todd Huspeni, parasitologist
Course Syllabus
Dr. Emmet Judziewicz, plant taxonomist
Summer 2014 (Tuesday, May 20 – Tuesday, June 10). 3 credits.
Spring 2005
Description – A field ecology course designed to introduce the student to the Great Basin desert, Cascade forest,
California redwood forest, and Pacific coastal intertidal and dune ecosystems. Plants and communities will be a
major emphasis and we will also cover animals in the intertidal pools, waterfowl, and have opportunities to see
megafauna such as bear, elk, and sea mammals. We will learn through active experiences: visits, on-site lectures
and discussions, and formulating and testing research questions and hypotheses using experiments in small
groups. This is a camping trip emphasizing low land-use impact and responsible wilderness etiquette.
Course Goals
1. Introduction to the following ecosystems:
a. Great Basin desert
b. Cascade forest
c. Marine intertidal (rocky intertidal, mudflat, sandy beach)
d. Coastal dune
e. Redwood forest
2. Enhance knowledge of the taxonomy and ecology of the above ecosystems.
3. Learning through active experiences: visits, on-site lectures & discussions.
4. Use of scientific method: you will generate research questions and hypotheses; then test these hypotheses
by designing experiments in small groups.
5. Improve presentation skills through team presentations of research and results.
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Grading Scale
Percentage
Grade
Percentage
Grade
93%-100%
A
72%-75.5%
C
90-92.5%
A68%-71.5%
C86%-89.5%
B+
64%-67.5%
D+
83%-85.5%
B
60%-63.5%
D
80%-82.5%
B< 60%
F
76%-79.5%
C+
Academic Honesty
An honest attitude is critical to real learning and progress in all academic endeavors. Being an honest learner
requires a commitment to abide by and foster academic honesty in all its aspects. We expect you to have a
thorough appreciation of what is meant by academic honesty, and to have made a firm commitment to embody
these standards with regard to your own learning. Academic dishonesty is defined in Chapter 14 of the UWSP
Rights and Responsibilities Publication, which you can find at the following website:
http://www.uwsp.edu/centers/rights/. Be sure you are familiar with what constitutes cheating (e.g. plagiarism when
writing essays or papers; looking at another student’s test during an exam, etc.).
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Itinerary
MAY 20 (Tue) – Leave Stevens Point at 5:30 am. Lodging at Foothills Inn, Rapid City SD. Groceries: Shop for
3 days in Mitchell, SD. 740 miles (12 hrs).
MAY 21 (Wed) – CAMP at Green River, Dinosaur National Monument, Utah. 570 miles (10 hours).
MAY 22 (Thu) – CAMP at Green River, Dinosaur National Monument, Utah (2nd night). Great Basin desert (25
miles).
MAY 23 (Fri) – Groceries: Shop for 3 days in Soda Springs, Idaho. CAMP at Craters of the Moon National
Monument, ID. Recent volcanism and juniper woodlands. 400 miles (8 hours).
MAY 24 (Sat) – Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon. CAMP at Steens Mountain Resort, OR. Showers,
laundry. 450 miles (8 hours).
MAY 25 (Sun) –CAMP at CAMP at Steens Mountain Resort, OR. Showers, laundry. Trip around Steens
Mountain to Fields, OR; meet Dr. Pete Zani. Showers, hot springs. 175 miles (6 hours).
MAY 26 (Mon, Memorial Day) – Cascade Mountains. Groceries at Trader Joe’s; shop for 2 days in Bend, OR.
CAMP at Metolius River, Camp Sherman, Deschutes National Forest, OR. Ponderosa pine forest. 225 miles (4
hours).
MAY 27 (Tue) – Fish hatchery at Metolius River. Then, Ocean in View, O Joy! NOAA research center and
aquarium in Newport, OR. CAMP at South Beach State Park, Newport, OR. Showers. 160 miles (3 hours). Low
tide (-1.1 ft) at 6:20 a.m.
MAY 28 (Wed) - Groceries; shop for 2 days in Newport, OR. Yaquina Head tide tools Low tide (-1.3 ft) at 7:01
a.m. Afternoon: Oregon Coast Aquarium. Talk on salmon biology by Laurie Weitkamp of NOAA. CAMP at
South Beach State Park, Newport, Oregon. Showers.
MAY 29 (Thu) – Laundry in Yachats; visit Dr. Kama Almasi. Visit Cape Perpetua State Park; hike through Sitka
spruce forests. Low tide (-1.3 ft) at 7:40 a.m. CAMP at Rock Creek Campground (USFS), Oregon. 40 miles (1
hour).
MAY 30 (Fri) – Groceries; shop for 3 days in Florence, OR. Pitcher plant wayside; Oregon Dunes walk. CAMP
at Sunset Bay near Cape Arago. Low tide (-1.2 ft) at 8:19 a.m. Showers. Pinnipeds at Cape Arago. 75 miles (2
hours).
MAY 31 (Sat)—Low tide (-1.0 ft.) at 8:57 a.m. Tom Gaskill at South Slough Estuarine Reserve. Tour of slough.
Tidal rocks pools, mud flats, and coastal meadows. CAMP at Cape Blanco State Park, OR. Showers. 85 miles (2
hours).
JUNE 1-2 (Sun-Mon) – Low tide (-0.6 ft.) at 9:35 a.m. on the 1st, -0.2 ft. at 10:15 a.m. on the 2nd. CAMP at Elk
Grove Campground, Prairie Grove Redwoods State Park, Orick, CA. California redwood forests. Showers both
days. Hike Fern Canyon trail. 175 miles (4 hours).
JUNE 3-4 (Tue-Wed) – Low tide (0.2 ft.) at 10:55 a.m. on the 3rd, 0.6 ft. at 11:38 a.m. on the 4th. CAMP at
Patrick’s Point State Park, CA. Intertidal zone with sea mammals; Sitka spruce forests; Tuesday morning in Arcata
(Groceries; shop for 3 days; laundry opportunity) and then ~ 200 miles. Showers both days.
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JUNE 5 (Thu) – Low tide (1.1 ft.) at 12:24 p.m. Leave Pacific coast; visit to Klamath Biological Field Station
(Spotted owls); cross coastal range, cross Sacramento Valley, enter Sierra Nevada. CAMP at Manzanita Lake,
Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA. Showers. 225 miles (6 hours).
JUNE 6-7 (Fri-Sat). Groceries in Ely, NV, for 4 days (rest of trip). CAMP at Grey Cliffs Group Campground,
Great Basin National Park, Nevada. Great Basin desert, hike to “Sky Island” with bristlecone pine grove on
Saturday. 600 miles (10 hours).
JUNE 8 (Sun) –CAMP at Green River, Dinosaur National Monument, UT. 500 miles (9 hours). Exams.
JUNE 9 (Mon) – Lodging at Foothills Inn, Rapid City SD. 500 miles (9 hours).
JUNE 10 (Tue) - Return to Stevens Point in evening ca. 6-7 pm. 650 miles (10 hrs).
Course Expectations and Assignments
Students will be graded on the following:
1. (25%) Personal journal, in which you should record:
a. Notes from the instructors’ lectures
b. Biological sightings and information for each site
c. Habitat information for each ecosystem
d. Species interaction information
e. Abiotic information, including geology and climate
f. Personal impressions on anything
2. (25%) Expert Talk. Each student taking the course for Biol. 309 credit will give an expert talk on
a subject selected prior to departure on the trip. Students registered for the 498 (seminar) credit
will be expected to give longer seminar presentations of approximately 45 minutes per student,
including a question and answer period. Your presentation grade will also include a portion for
Participation during the seminars of other students. For this, you will need to focus on the other
expert talks and seminars and ask questions.
3. (20%) Deportment. As this will be an intense field course, you will be expected to pitch in
whenever possible. You are also expected to maintain a reasonable temperament and act in a
mature manner at all times. Especially in National and State Parks and Monuments, please speak
in a normal voice without shouting or yahoo-like shrieks. Why? Because there may be other
visitors around the bend in the trail who have waited all their lives to visit these timeless places for
their life-changing moments of peace, solitude, or spiritual insight. Please do not spoil the
experience for them or your fellow students.
Illegal drugs, underage drinking, drunkenness by those of legal age, or open or unopened
containers of alcoholic beverages in university vehicles – None of these behaviors will be
tolerated by us.
4. (30%). Exam(s). There will be one or, at our option, two mini-exams on the trip. The exam(s)
will be half open-book (you are allowed to use notes in your journals) and half closed-book. See
page six of this syllabus to see examples of questions that we have used in the past.
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5.
What to Bring
(WE MUST SEVERELY LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF PERSONAL GEAR – JUST ONE BAG OR BACKPACK
PLUS YOUR TENT – SHARE A TENT WITH A CLASSMATE)
pocket knife
1. Required
2 pairs jeans
lighter/matches
2 pairs long sleeve shirts
pencils or permanent ink pen
2 T-shirts
money for personal food, etc.
sweater or sweatshirt
rain gear
2. Desired
2 hairs heavy socks
air mattress, sunscreen, sunglasses, binocs, camera
hiking boots
3. The University will provide:
tennis shoes
All camp stoves
warm jacket
All ice chests
hat or cap
Ice
1 (or better 2) liter water bottle(s)
Tarps
flashlight (headlamp is best)
A modest natural history library
cook kit (skillet, pan, cup, spoon)
The university will provide transportation to showers
and laundry facilities during the trip – But you must
provide the user fee for these services.
sleeping bag rated to 20°
compass
toilet articles, towel
Frequently Asked Questions/Logistics
It would be easiest if you can have your gear here on Monday, May 20 so it can be packed, but we can do that on
Tuesday morning the 21std as well. We meet at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 21th. (Come in from D lot between Science
and TNR). We ride at 5:30 a.m. If you need a ride/place to sleep Friday, a place to park your car, etc. let us know. If
you do not appear by 5:30 we leave without you; in that case, see Jackie Engum in the biology office (TNR 167, 715346-4524) to withdraw from the course.
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Cost: Tuition for 3 credits plus $ 800.00 for van and camping expenses.

Personal research talks: Expect/plan to give a short (10-15 minute) lecture on your research topic. You will be the
resident expert; expect questions.

Journals: We’ll provide you with one – Have it ready for notes at all times in the vans and at campgrounds.

Medical: Please bring your insurance card. A credit card to pay for unexpected medical treatment is a good idea.

Money: If you need cash, ATMs are all along the way.

Food and tents: Two students per shared 1) food box and 2) cooler, with grocery stops at least every few days.
We'll provide ice and stove fuel. Please “buddy-up” with another student to share a tent, cook stove, food box, and
cooler; you can do that via email or on the fly.
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