Module 4

University of Western Ontario
Ontario Universities Program in Field Biology

Course Title :

Introduction to Desert Ecology
Instructor(s) : Paul Handford and Jane Bowles
Date(s) : 1-26 May 2010. Following a day of orientation at UWO on Saturday, 1st May, we shall leave London on Sunday, 2nd May 2010.   We shall return to London on 25 or 26 May.
Location : Mostly Arizona and s. California, U.S.A.
Cost : Can$1100 (Deposit of $250.00, balance due later—see below for payment schedule and policy). 
Includes all costs but meals (which usually works out to ~US$250 or so more)
Prerequisites : Completed 2nd. year, or introductory courses in ecology and statistics. 
TETANUS SHOTS up to date. A SENSE OF HUMOUR comes in very useful.
Description :

One day at U.W.O. for orientation sessions; leave next day for U.S. southwest.   Main theme is ecology of, and adaptations for life in, the American deserts, particularly the Sonoran Desert of Arizona.

The class will spend ~15 days in the field visiting various sections of the N. American arid lands learning the major elements of the vegetation and certain other aspects of the biota.  The class will maintain individual Field Journals, to be handed in at the end of the course.  There will be group and/or class research projects, to be written up later, more or less as a lab. report.  All nights are spent in the field, except for the first and the last, which are spent on the freeway, as we drive continuously (apart from meal stops) to and from the rough vicinity of Denver.  You will need use of a tent, sleeping bag, foamy, canteen and eating tools:  most meals are camp-style, except when we are doing serious travelling.   On some days we spend long hours in a hot, dusty, van.  When we are in areas with no ready water supply and relying on packed water, there is no luxury water-use e.g. for hair washing.  Generally, conditions do not suit the fussy - you must be prepared to be a bit of a grease-ball for some days at a stretch.

Enrollment : 12 students
Evaluation :

1.  Field identification tests & general participation. 

2.  Data collection. 

3.  Preparation of a Field Journal. 

4.  Analysis of class project data and preparation of a report (following return). 

Credit balance: Journal -40%; Project Reports - 40%; Field tests; general application & involvement with the course and camp work - 20%.
Assignment(s) :  
Additional Information:

PLEASE NOTE CAREFULLY THE FOLLOWING:

Policy on cancellation and refunds:  This course has fixed costs regardless of the number of students, since the bulk of the cost comes from fixed charges on the vans.  The cost per student is an equal fraction of the total.  This presents a problem with regard to cancellations:  they must be covered somehow - either the cost per student increases, or we get a replacement, or we don't return the fee.  The first is unfair, so the choice is between the last two.  Accordingly, the payment schedule is as follows:

To confirm your enrolment, We must receive full payment of the balance (money order or certified cheque ONLY - no personal cheques) by 1 March.  This date is in stone!  Failure to have the balance in on time will result in your being removed from the course list, to be replaced by someone from the waiting list.

To cancel and get your balance back, you must inform us in writing by 15 March.  This gives sufficient time to find a replacement for you and your $$$.   If we find no replacement, your deposit is forfeit.

If you cancel after 15 March, we reserve the option of keeping your $$$, BUT WE WILL DO SO ONLY IF WE HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE.  We shall try to find a replacement, and if we do, you’ll get your money back.  You might help to find a replacement yourself, and then we're all happy.