Credit Hours: 1   ·   Wed 1pm Sci206   ·   Instructors: Jeanette Jaskula and Dr. Bob Brodman   ·   e-mail user group: froggers

Students eligible: Any biology/biol-chem/environmental science major or minor. 1 credit hour course may be repeated to a maximum of 3 credit hours.

Description: Students will participate in an ongoing amphibian population monitoring program to determine the distribution and abundance of frogs, toads and salamanders living within Jasper county and nearby areas. Students will learn to identify all local species, breeding call indices of relative abundance and use topographic mapping techniques. Students will be responsible to keep a data file including weather, date and time of survey, the identification of each species found with their relative abundance and natural history observations. Surveys will usually be off campus in the evening and on weekends. Students will work in teams of 2-3 and will typically be responsible for surveying two townships. Attendance, demonstration of competency, 20 hours of field work and submission of a complete data file will earn an `A'. Failure to fulfill these requirements will necessitate an "I" or a lower grade. Future goal: We will present data at next year's Declining Amphibian Population Task Force (DAPTF) meeting and at the Indiana Academy of Science meeting (IAS).

Schedule
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Jan 12: Introduction and organization

Jan 19: Overview of amphibian ecology; Identification of salamanders

Jan 26: Identification of early season frogs and toads (including calls): quiz on salamanders

Feb 2: Identification of late season frogs and toads (including calls): quiz on frogs and toads

Feb 9: Mapping techniques, Survey methods, Data collection; Team Assignments: quiz on calls

Feb 16: Review identification (including frog calls): quiz on maps, methods and data

Feb 23: Midterm exam I (taken "open book")

Mar 1: Midterm exam II (retakes only for people who scored below 90% on exam I)

Mar 15: Field test (weather dependent)

Mar 16-May 8: 20 hrs Field work [weather dependent]; we will no longer meet for "class"

Important Notes
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1. The first evening that is at least 45-55^oF: everybody will do a common road survey and an on site survey.

2. Each team will do night-time road surveys of assigned area prior to April 7.

3. Each team will do night-time road surveys of assigned area after April 14.

4. Weekend (Fri-Sun) day trips to Jasper-Pulaski and other local wetlands will be announced via e-mail.

5. A total of 20 hrs of road surveys and field work needs to be completed by May 8.

6. Each missed class [excused or unexcused] results in an additional two hours of field work.

7. An A (90%) is the only passing grade on the midterms; they are kind of like driving tests. You're must retake the exam until you achieve 90% accuracy before I let you collect data.

8. Students repeating this course need not attend classes (but recommend attending the review) and are required to complete 25 hrs of field work.

9. Teams are responsible for their own transportation, gas and misc supplies (insect repellent, boots, flashlights, etc..), however SJC/Dr.Brodman will supply nets, traps, waders and maps.

10. This research is part of the official DAPTF Indiana Herp Atlas project.