2019
Wildlife Inventory and Monitoring
May 31 & June 1 (Friday & Saturday)
Instructor: Dr. Gary Casper is a regional ecologist and past collections manager at the Milwaukee Public Museum. He serves as a science adviser to the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust and is an Associate Scientist with the UWM Field Station. His research focuses on wildlife conservation and monitoring in the western Great Lakes.
The Course: This course will give students a sound background in the theory and practice of wildlife inventory and monitoring (I&M), with an emphasis on its application in adaptive management for habitat restoration and management. The course will review standard techniques for I&M, and the essentials of study design and data collection, analysis of data, and the role of I&M in conservation assessments. Students will learn how to design I&M programs specific to various objectives, understand the differences between inventory and monitoring, and how to assess local wildlife conservation issues linked to habitat management. Common techniques for I&M will be demonstrated in the field. The course is appropriate for researchers, planners, and property managers involved in wildlife habitat management, environmental planning, and wildlife monitoring. Come prepared to get wet and/or muddy for a field sampling component, and plan to stay Friday night for bat and frog surveys.
Workshop fee: $110.00. Available for 1 college credit or 1.4 CEU. Meals are optional and are extra. Sign up for meals when you register.
Sedges: Identification and Ecology
June 14 & 15 (Friday & Saturday)
Instructor: Dr. Anton Reznicek, Curator of Vascular Plants, University of Michigan Herbarium, has studied Cyperaceae, especially Carex throughout North America and in the tropics, and has a special interest in the Great Lakes region.
The Course: Identification of sedges, especially Carex, will stress not only keying skills, but using ecological and vegetative characters to identify species and species groups. In addition to identification we will explore the importance of sedges in a variety of different communities, and gain an appreciation of the dynamics of some of the communities and the role of sedges in these dynamics.
Workshop fee: $120.00. Not available for college credit, 1.4 CEU. Meals are optional and are extra. Sign up for meals when you register.
Vegetation of Wisconsin
June 17 – 22 (Monday – Saturday)
Instructor: Dr. James Reinartz, Director, UWM Field Station is a plant ecologist and evolutionary biologist.
Schedule: This course will be a week-long field trip throughout Wisconsin. We will meet at 8:30 am Monday, return to the Field Station Friday evening, and finish by mid-afternoon Saturday.
The Course: Following “The Vegetation of Wisconsin” by John Curtis (1959), we will visit and study all of the major plant communities in the state. In addition to study of the ecology, development, and dynamics of the original vegetation types of Wisconsin, we will explore plant communities which have developed as the result of disturbance, and the challenges associated with management of natural areas representing pre-settlement vegetation types. This will be a week of good old-fashioned ecology and botany with a group of others very interested in the topic. The course fee covers all transportation costs and lodging.
Workshop fee: $425.00 (includes all transportation and lodging). Available for 2 college credits or 5.5 CEU.
Wetland Delineation
July 12 & 13 (Friday & Saturday)
Instructor: Alice Thompson is a wetland ecologist and owner of “Thompson & Associates Wetland Services”, where she consults on wetland issues and projects. She holds a Master’s degree from UWM and is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist (Society of Wetland Sciences) and an Assured Delineator with the WDNR Wetland Identification Program. Her expertise includes wetland delineation, restoration, mitigation and control of invasive species.
The Course: This course is a practical field-oriented guide to wetland delineation. Wetland delineation is the practice of locating the boundary between what is a wetland, and thus regulated by state and federal law, and what is upland. We will discuss what determines a wetland and how to identify and document wetland vegetation, soils and hydrology during a delineation. We will dig soil pits, identify vegetation, look for signs of hydrology, and physically stake the wetland boundary in the field. In the lab we will discuss the basics of completed data sheets and accurate reporting as well as regulatory oversight. This course is intended for beginners and will focus on relatively undisturbed wetlands present on the UWM Field Station. You can get your feet wet and decide if you want to learn more and make a career of wetland delineation or understand wetland identification for other purposes. Wetland delineation is an important tool for the protection of wetlands, and is very challenging but rewarding work.
Workshop fee: $110.00. Not available for college credit, 1.4 CEU. Meals are optional and are extra. Sign up for meals when you register.
Observation and Discovery in Nature
July 26 & 27 (Friday & Saturday)
Instructors: Prof. Barbara Reinhart recently retired from teaching in the Art Department of UWM – Waukesha. Her life-long involvement with observational drawing has led to her appreciation for the multitude of processes, benefits and discoveries that result. Dr. Suzanne Joneson teaches Botany and Microbiology courses at UWM – Waukesha. Her Ph.D. in Biology investigated the molecular biology of lichen symbiosis and microbial communication. Before heading to graduate school she was a professional baker for 5 years where she realized her passion for microbes, food, and science. When she’s not teaching she is exploring the fascinating intersects of cooking, microbiology, botany, and art. Prof. Reinhart and Dr. Joneson have previously taught “Interdepartmental Studies: Art and Botany” together.
The Course: This course will introduce students to the shared interface of observation in science and art using the natural setting of the UWM Field Station. Unlike a biological illustration course that focuses on the product of translating views into realistic images, this course instead emphasizes how careful observation, visual recording via drawing, and scientific understanding can illuminate each other. Each of these activities inform the observer via attention to detail, pattern awareness, and the visual isolation of parts of a whole. With a basic introduction to drawing and science, these observations will be recorded in a field notebook. Class time will be divided between expeditions exploring the natural habitats of the field station, and sessions of focused observations, drawing, and descriptions. Students will leave this course with basic skill sets in drawing and observation of the natural world. Students need no prior experience in drawing and all levels of expertise are encouraged to enroll.
Workshop fee: $110.00. Available for 1 college credit or 1.4 CEU. Meals are optional and are extra. Sign up for meals when you register.
Aquatic Invertebrates
August 2 & 3 (Friday & Saturday)
Instructors: Dr. Gretchen Meyer, Senior Scientist and Manager of the UWM Field Station, is an ecologist and entomologist who studies the interactions between plants and insects. She has long been interested in aquatic invertebrates. Robert Clare holds a Master’s degree in ecology from UWM, and teaches ecology, botany and biology classes at UWM and MATC.
The Course: This course will introduce participants to the diversity of aquatic invertebrates inhabiting Wisconsin’s waters. After an introduction to the ecology and taxonomy of major groups of aquatic invertebrates, we will visit a variety of field sites to collect and identify invertebrates. Topics to be covered in the workshop include the challenges of living in water, sampling methods for aquatic invertebrates, use of keys and other resources for identification, and aquatic invertebrates as bioindicators. This course is appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about aquatic invertebrates and their role in freshwater systems.
Workshop fee: $110.00. Available for 1 college credit or 1.4 CEU. Meals are optional and are extra. Sign up for meals when you register.