COURSE OBJECTIVES
- Survey the current literature dealing with Wetland Ecology.
- Discuss current topics in Wetland Ecology.
- Learn about methods for wetland delineation and monitoring.
- Provide first-hand experience at seminar development and presentation.
- Practice in clarity of exposition
- Logical organization of talk
- Logical sequence of presentation
- Clear thinking before an audience.
COURSE OUTLINE AND FORMAT
- Jan 9 course introduction, goals and procedures
- Jan 16 All meet for lecture: Types and definitions of wetlands
- Jan 23 All meet for lecture: Function of wetlands and Great Lakes wetlands.
- Jan 30 Wetland slide show, Seminar topic Confirmation.
- Feb 6 Complete literature search and library requests.
- Turn in preliminary Literature search –email to pillsbury@alma.edu
- Feb 13 Guest speaker (TBA)
- March 13 Meet and present a 5-10 minute mini-seminar to the class:
- Turn in Abstract of Presentation of Drop slip.
- March 27 Seminar Session I: 30-35 min talk
- April 3 Seminar Session II: 30-35 min talk
- April 10 Seminar Session III: 30-35 min talk
- Speakers Must Submit Full Bibliography (at least 10 references, no email
references)
FORMAT FOR REFERENCES
Author, Date. Title. Journal. Volume: Page.
Holomuzki, J.R., R.W. Pillsbury, and S.B. Khandwala. 2000. Interplay between dispersal
determinants of larval hydropsychid caddisflies. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 56: 2041-2050.
SEMINAR FORMAT
A) The first mini-seminar will be informal and should be a summary of your readings to
date. Allow 10 minutes maxiumum. Explain important ideas and discuss where you are going
with your topic.
Submit Abstract (300 word maximum)
- Define the objectives (state the problem)
- Discuss methods and techniques
- Prersent essential data or evidence
- Interpretation of the research.
- Main conculsions
- Summarize your talk.
B) The formal seminar should be an approximately 30 minute presentation (with 5
additional minutes allowed for questions). Submit full literature review.
- You are expected to use visuals (overheads or PowerPoint presentations) Start early!!
- The audience is expected to take notes and ask the presenter questions about the topic.
This may be prompted by a random selection method if deemed necessary. The audience will
be grading the seminar speaker. See Evaluation form for details.
GRADES
| Preliminary bibliography |
5 pts |
| Abstract |
10 pts |
| Final bibliography w/copy of presentation (ppt file or overheads) |
25 pts |
| My evaluation |
25 pts |
| Peer evaluation |
25 pts |
| Attendance (if you miss a session, you sacrifice points, NO EXCEPTIONS) |
10 pts |
| Total |
100 POINTS |
ABSTRACT PREPARATION
- You must follow the specified format.
- Abstracts should be typed and be no more than 300 words (not including title).
- If an electric typewriter is used, use a good ribbon and make neat corrections. Use
black ink for symbols not on your typewriter. If at all possible, avoid dot matrix
printers; they produce inferior copies.
- Your abstract should be organized as follows:
- Title- Use BOLD FACE CAPITAL LETTERS; when using a Latin name, please use italics
(or underline) and include the common name also (if available).
- Author – include divisional and departmental affiliations. Single space all typing.
- Abstract text –
- Double space between Title and author, single space abstract text. No more than 300
words.
THE EFFECTS OF ROOT MASS AND DISTURBANCE ON WILD RICE (ZIZANIA AQUATICA)
SURVIVORSHIP. Robert Pillsbury, Department of Biology, Alma College
Wild rice plants (Zizania aquatica) growing in soft, wetland sediments are often
uprooted by high winds. A series of surveys and tests are presented in this presentation
on factors that may be important in the uprooting of wild
rice….blah…..blah….blah….