Biology Outreach...
linking the
Kevin E. Bonine, Ph.D., kebonine<at>u.arizona.edu,
520 626 0092, 520 621 1588
Tiffany Alvarez, Graduate Teaching
Assistant, tda<at>u.arizona.edu
Schedule & Readings:
We will meet on
most Mondays from 1630-1800h in Shantz 247. Four Saturday events are mandatory:
The first (12 Sept) will be an all-day, ≥12 hour excursion. The others
will be approximately 8am-4:30pm leaving UA for B2 and then returning to UA.
Additionally, you will spend two hours sometime during the first few weeks of
classes visiting with a K-12 Biology/Ecology classroom. You will also meet
twice with a faculty/scientific expert regarding your topic. Meetings and
preparation with your peers will also take place outside of scheduled class
time.
Week 1
Monday 24 Aug
– Introduction, Syllabus (ppt slides: x2 or x6)
[optional: Grade
inflation article]
Saturday 29 Aug
– no meeting
Week 2
Monday 31 Aug
– Sonoran Desert Introduction, Theme & Topic Discussion (ppt slides: x2
or x6)
A Natural
History of the
Pages :
1-2 Introduction
3-18 Biomes
and Communities of
25-28 Monsoon etc.
and Zepeda poem, Wind
[optional: Floods
of 1993]
71-85 Geologic Origins
119-126, 525 Biodiversity & Pupfish
529-531 Reptiles & Amphibians
577-585 Rattlesnakes
Choose from this
list in preparation for 12 Sept trip. Tell Tiffany today in class. For
widespread taxa please focus on the native varieties found in and around
Packrat, Turkey Vulture, Mexican Jay, Pleasing
Fungus Beetle, Butterflies, Saguaro, Ocotillo, Brittlebush, Prickly Pear, Oaks,
Grasses, Yuccas, Agaves, Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, Alligator Juniper,
Corkbark Fir
Saturday 05 Sept
– no meeting
Week 3
Monday 07 Sept.
- Labor Day, no meeting
Saturday 12 Sept. (7am – 8pm) – All Day Field-Trip
Orientation (all students attend;
• Five-minute natural history presentation while on the field
trip:
(For widespread taxa please focus on the
native varieties found in and around
Packrat: Gina W.
Turkey vulture: Anna A.
Mexican Jay: Geoffrey P.
Pleasing Fungus Beetle: Kelly A.
Butterflies: Josh
Saguaro: Alex L.
Ocotillo: Michael W.
Brittlebush: Aletris
Prickly Pear: Janel M.
Oaks: Seth S.
Yuccas: Emily K.
Two handouts to BRING WITH YOU:
• Handout 1 (lab overview) and Handout 2
(lab datasheet)
Assigned
• Sonorensis Publication 1989 (a great overview of
• Guide to Mt. Lemmon Highway (with mileage,
elevation, and checklists)
• Miscellaneous Mt. Lemmon-related information (including a map)
• Biosphere 2 Research Example
• Biosphere 2 Website
(look at history, fast facts, etc.)
• Biosphere 2, Video
of Jane Poynter
Optional
Whittaker and Niering 1965 (excerpts; discussion
of life zones and vegetation on
Cruising for Timber! (details on how to quickly
calculate standing biomass)
Backer, Jensen, McPherson 2004 (article on fire
suppression and fire effects)
Kauffman 2004 (perceptions of fire, restoration
ecology)
Article on Rattlesnake Fire (1994) in Chiricahuas
Article on erosion post fire in Chiricahuas
LTRR Big Arizona Fires with links to newspaper
articles etc.
Fire and Erosion in AZ (Nature)
Continue to
discuss topics. Choose workshop pairs/groups.
(Essay 1 Due - hardcopy)
Drought resistance of desert species, top predators in sky island
ecosystems, hummingbird use of sky islands during migration, other bird use of
sky islands, grassland gradients, invasive species, and one I am forgetting as
I type.
Week 4
Monday 14 Sept.
– How to teach science. Further discuss workshop topics.
• Choose a
peer-reviewed scientific paper about a
Bring the abstract of the paper and be ready
to say a few words about the topic and the paper.
Email the citation to Tiffany before class.
Saturday 19
Sept. – no meeting
Week 5
Monday 21 Sept.
– Finalize workshop topics, Discussion.
Saturday 26
Sept. – no meeting
Week 6
Monday 28 Sept. –
Workshop preparation, Discussion
(Essay 2 Due
– via email)
Saturday 03 Oct.
– no meeting
Week 7
Monday 05 Oct.
– Workshop preparation, Discussion
UPDATED
schedule/tips
for workshop components.
Saturday 10 Oct.
– 8am-4:30pm – B2 Mock Workshop Day (all students attend)
Please
bring a water bottle, lunch, and your workshop materials.
Week 8
Monday 12 Oct.
– Workshop reflection, preparation, Discussion
(Essay 3 Due
– via email on Wed 14 Oct)
Saturday 17 Oct.
– no meeting
Week 9
Monday 19 Oct.
– Workshop preparation, Discussion
Saturday 24 Oct.
- B2 Workshop Day (#1)
[Note that for
the workshop Saturday visits (8am-5pm) to B2, not all students will go each
Saturday. You will be expected to go twice over these five weeks; two different
workshops will be held each Saturday. Signup earlier in the semester.]
Week 10
Monday 26 Oct.
– Workshop feedback, preparation, Discussion
Saturday 31 Oct.
- B2 Workshop Day (#2)
Week 11
Monday 02 Nov. -
no meeting
Saturday 07 Nov.
- B2 Workshop Day (#3)
Week 12
Monday 09 Nov.
– no meeting
(Essay 4
Due – via email, or complete second workshop presentation and submit
documentation and contact info by 4pm Monday 07 Dec )
Saturday 14 Nov.
- B2 Workshop Day (#4)
Week 13
Monday 16 Nov.
– Workshop feedback, Discussion
Saturday 21 Nov.
- B2 Workshop Day (#5)
Week 14
Monday 23 Nov.
– Semester Summary Discussion
Please bring your posters so we can get
them mounted by 07 December!
(Essay 5 Due – via email before
class)
Essay 5: In general, what would be the
most effective way to teach the public (from children to retirees) about
ecological/evolutionary/biological principles using examples from our local
Saturday 28 Nov.
– no meeting (Thanksgiving Weekend)
Week 15
Monday 30
Nov. – no meeting
Saturday 05
Dec. – no meeting
Week 16+
Monday 07 Dec. – Celebrate
with faculty/scientific consultants, teachers, & B2 staff.
Gentle
Ben’s on University Avenue 5:00pm – ???.
Tiffany’s
Mariachi group will perform at 6 and 7.
Your
mounted posters will be displayed for all to appreciate and discuss.
FOOD
PROVIDED.
Party Flyer to share with your invited
guests.
Evaluation to complete and bring with
you.
This
course has no Final Exam, but if you are getting honors or graduate credit your
supplemental work is due by 1400h Wed 16 December to your instructor.
>
Page
updated 25 November 2009