FW 4500 - High-Elevation Ecology

Instructors:
Anita Risch
Martin Schuetz

Email:
Anita Risch
Martin Schuetz

Course Description

Planned 2008 schedule

Registration

Things you need to come...

FW 4500: High-Elevation Ecology - 4 Credits
May 5, 19 +26, June 2 + 9, July 20 - August 4, 2008 - Limit: 16 students!

Open to all majors
No prerequisites
FRES & BIO majors have preferential registration

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FW4500 section 27: High-elevation ecology (4 credits)

Course Description

Besides teaching you about the ecology of plants, soils and animals in high mountain ecosystems in class and on several hikes in Europe's first National Park, we will also provide you with in-depth information on the how to deal with natural hazards. Additionally, you will learn about the importance of the Alps in providing alternative energy (water power), and how farmer's managing the land innovatively adapt to increasing economic pressure. Naturally, there will be time to learn about the cultural and historical characteristics of a country, where four languages are spoken on an area the size of the U.P. And of course, you will get a chance to sample the two most famous goods of Switzerland: chocolate and cheese!

You should be prepared to hike for 3 to 7 hours in a single day and climb over 3000 feet in elevation. Although the class will be held in August, you should be prepared to face cold weather (snow) and/or very windy conditions.

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FW4500 section 27: High-elevation ecology

Planned 2008 Schedule:

Online lectures:

Monday, May 5, 2008: 4 - 6pm Houghton time
Monday, May 19, 2008: 4 - 6pm Houghton time
Monday, May 26, 2008: 4 - 6pm Houghton time
Monday, June 2, 2008: 4 - 6pm Houghton time
Monday, June 9, 2008: 4 - 6pm Houghton time

You will need a computer, webcam, headset, high-speed internet access and the Marratech software (free download at http://www.marratech.com) for participating in these lectures. You can then access http://emeeting.mtu.edu, where you can practice in the "public" meeting room. If you need help, please contact Patty Lins (Email: Patty Lins, Educational Technology and Online Learning, Michigan Tech University, Phone: (906) 487-2925)

You can attend these lectures from any place as long as you are online. If you miss a lecture, you can download the entire session later and go through it on your own.

Two week field camp in Zernez, Switzerland (July 20 – August 4, 2008):

	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
	July 20	July 21	July 22	July 23	July 24	July 25	July 26
7 - 8 am	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast
8 -9 am	Individual travel to Zurich	Individual arrival in Zurich, latest possible arrival time at noon	Lecture 11:	Guided tour at cloister Mustair built in 600 AD, Unesco world heritage	Lecture 13:	Lecture 18 + field trip on alpine grouse recovery program	Water power: Visitation dam Punt da Gall and Ova Spin
9 - 10 am			Lecture 12:		Lecture 14:
10 - 11 am					Lecture 15
11 - 12 pm					Lecture 16
12 - 1 pm		Driving to Zernez (Engadine Valley)	Lunch	Lunch	Guided tour Natural hazards in Pontresina		Lunch
1 - 2 pm			Recitation: Vegetation relevées, biomass estimation, soil sampling in rocky soils	Field trip: SNP Margunet: 3 hrs: research projects, plant adaptation, soil formation, variability, bearded vultures (reintroduction program)			Time to study for exam
2 - 3 pm
3 - 4 pm
4 - 5 pm		Introduction to the Engadin Valley
5 - 6 pm
6 - 7 pm		Dinner	Dinner			Field trip: SNP, Val Trupchun: viewing of large ungulates, effects of animals on forest regeneration	Dinner
7 - 8 pm				Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Exam: Open end
8 - 9 pm					Lecture 17		Exam: Open end

	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
	July 27	July 28	July 29	July 30	July 31	August 1	August 2	August 3
7 - 8 am	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast
8 -9 am		Field trip SNP: Cluozza to Parking 3: viewing of large ungulates, geology, plant adaptations, former agricultural usage	Sleep in morning	Field work in small groups	High-elevation land use, traditional cheese making facility	Analysis of data	Working on presentations, reports	Final discussion
9 - 10 am	Lecture 19:
10 - 11 am	Lecture 20:
11 - 12 pm	Lecture 21:
12 - 1 pm	Lunch		Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
1 - 2 pm	Field trip SNP: Zernez - Chamanna Cluozza, geology, plant adaptations, former agricultural usage		Introduction to field sites, plot selection Umbrail Pass	Field work in small groups	Lab work on samples	Analysis of data, working on presentations	Presentations	Travel and overnite stay in Zurich, 4th individual return to the USA
2 - 3 pm
3 - 4 pm
4 - 5 pm
5 - 6 pm
6 - 7 pm	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner
7 - 8 pm	Overnite stay at Chamanna Cluozza		Exams back	Lab work on samples	Lab work on samples	Working on presentations, reports
8 - 9 pm	Overnite stay at Chamanna Cluozza		Exams back	Lab work on samples	Lab work on samples	Working on presentations, reports

This is a 4-credit field class with an anticipated lab fee of $300. The lab fee covers all expenses in Switzerland (including food except lunches). You will be responsible for organizing and paying your own flight to/from Switzerland (Zurich). There are no pre-rec’s and the course is open to all majors. Acceptance will be on a first come, first serve basis.

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FW4500 section 27: High-elevation ecology

Registration

register as usual through the web for the 4 credits (FW 4500 Section 27)
go to study abroad website and fill in the online forms (ask Carl Blair, Email: Carl Blair for help). There is a $50 fee

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FW4500 section 27: High-elevation ecology

Things you will need to come to Switzerland

Valid passport (needs to be valid at least till summer 2009), no visa needed for American citizens
Hiking boots, rain gear
Backpack
Sleeping bag

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Page last modified October 25, 2007