West Valley College
Field Ecology
Biology - 32049
Spring 2024
Welcome to Field Ecology! As your instructor this semester, I am here to guide you through the wonderful biodiversity of California deserts. I am committed to helping you learn and succeed in this adventure. If you need help please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. You may contact me with the following information:
Instructor: Leticia Gallardo
Email: [email protected]
Office: SM 55 H Phone: 408-741-2416
Office Hours: M 1:00-2:00pm (Zoom); T 12:20-1:40pm (SM55); W 12:00-1:30pm (Zoom)
Web Page: instruct.westvalley.edu/gallardo/
Course: Biol 58- Field Ecology 3 units
Class Hrs: Lec. F 10:15-12:20 pm SM 58
Tentative Lecture dates: 2/02, 2/09, 2/23, 3/01, 3/08, 3/15, 3/22, 4/03
Field Trip: Fri Mar 29 Thru Wed Apr 03
Prerequisites: There are no academic prerequisites for this course. However, students should be physically fit to participate in moderate hiking that will be involved in the field component of the course.
978-0-762-780334
General Course Description
This course explores the local plant and animal communities of the Eastern Sierra, Owen’s Valley and neighboring regions. Communities that will be discusses include high and low desert communities such as various desert scrubs, sand dunes, alkali sinks, playas, and desert woodlands- pinyon- juniper and Joshua tree woodlands. Environmental conditions and subsequent plant and animal adaptations will be emphasized. The field component of this course will visit areas of the Eastern Sierra Nevada and Death Valley. Students must successfully complete class preparatory requirements in order to participate in the field trip.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Evaluate and hypothesize on abiotic conditions influencing ecological structure.
- Identify living systems, flora and fauna, specific to field study regions.
- Weigh the impact of human activity on the ecosystems or regions emphasized in class.
Course Objectives
At the completion of this course the student should be able to
- Describe Plant communities of the region and describe abiotic and biotic conditions influencing life in these zones
- Identify dominant plants
- Describe the fundamental climatic & geological processes that shape the region
- Describe the Vertebrate and Invertebrate fauna of the regions visited
- Identify common birds, reptiles, mammals, and insects
- Demonstrate the ability to make field journal entries
- Appreciate the natural landscape of California
Required Materials:
Lab Supply Kit: Provided by college to be picked up by student
· Smart device with iNaturalist app
· Transportation Requirement: Students responsible for transportation to field activities
To defray costs you will have the option to borrow some items from the Biology department:
In order to defray cost for students will have the option of either purchasing copies of these books/materials OR they will also be available for check-out for the course. Checked out items will need to be returned at the end of the course. Any checked-out items that are not returned will be charged to your student account (Please note: this will result in a hold on your WVC account until the items are returned or the cost of the items are paid for).
· Hand Lens (Loupe)
· Field Notebook. 3 ring binder 5.5” X 8.5” OR 6 “X 9.5” with Lined filler paper
· Binoculars.
· The California Naturalist Handbook. 2013. Nevers, G, D.S. Edelman, A. Merenlender. University of California Press. Berkeley, California. ISBN: 978-0-520-27480-8
· Sibley Birds West 2nd ed. 2015. Sibley, David A. Penguin Random House, LLC, New York, NY. ISBN: 978-0-307-95792-4
· Mojave Desert Wildflowers: A Field Guide to Wildflowers, Trees, and Shrubs of the Mojave Desert 2nd ed. 2013. Mackay, Pam. Falcon Guides, CT. 978-0-762-780334
Also Recommended as a reference:
· A Natural History of California. 2017. Schoenherr, Allan A. University of California Press. Berkeley, California. ISBN 978-0-520-06922-0
Course Expectations
Students will be required to attend and participate in lecture and field trip. To get the most out of this class you should expect to devote study time outside of class. The amount of time you spend in and outside of class will, in a large part, determine how well you do in the course. Students are expected to attend and participate in all lectures and labs. Any student absent from 4 or more class sessions (lecture or lab) may be dropped from the course by the instructor. Students are encouraged to remain active participants in class. Class involvement will not only make the course more interesting, but will also facilitate student understanding, learning and retention. All students are expected to arrive to class on time, having read the related material relevant to lectures.
Conduct: Our course is a safe and respectful space for everyone. Please be respectful of the environment and of your classmates and instructor. Disruptive conduct in class will not be supported. In this spirit, please arrive on time, avoid disruptive or disrespectful talk, ringing cell phones, pagers and ipod use while in class. Please be sure to mute your audio during Zoom sessions unless you are actively asking a question or participating in an activity. Disruptive students will be asked to leave and will lose participation points. Continued disruptive behavior will result in disciplinary action. Students violating conduct or academic integrity policies will lose any extra credit points offered/earned. Thank you for being respectful of our course community.
COVID-19 Safety: Part of creating a respectful and safe environment is to contribute and respect everyone’s health and safety. We will practice all West Valley College and Santa Clara County COVID-19 safety protocols in our classroom. Please review the COVID safety guidelines in the course module “WVC Biology Department COVID Information and Guidelines.”
Code of conduct
- Safety is critical for the success of this course. Students will be responsible for following the safety guidelines provided by the instructor. This includes adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the class.
- Alcohol and drug use violate West Valley College policies and will not be allowed on field trips.
- Weapons including firearms are not allowed on field trip
- Failure to follow safety and conduct rules will result in dismissal from the class with a loss of the points associated with the activity.
- Respect. Be respectful of the environment and of your classmates.
- Cell phone use is not allowed during course lectures or activities.
- Loud stereos and music are not permitted
- Respect- Be respectful of the environment and of your classmates
Any student violating Code of Conduct protocols on the field trip will be sent home immediately. It will be the responsibility of the student to arrange transport back to campus.
Land Acknowledgment: We pause to acknowledge that West Valley College sits on the land of the Ohlone and the Muwekma people. For thousands of years, these natives occupied this land and used this beautiful location as their home. Let us give an enormous debt of gratitude to the Ohlone and Muwekma tribes. By offering this Land Acknowledgment, we remember that the Ohlone and Muwekma people are still connected to this region.
WVC Non-discrimination Statement: The district, and each individual who represents the District, shall provide access to its services, courses, and programs without regard to national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, race, ethnicity, color, medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, or military and veteran status, or because he/she/they is perceived to have one or more of the foregoing characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
Health/ Stress Management: All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. You are not alone. There are helpful resources available on campus and an important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. Asking for help is a smart and courageous, albeit sometimes difficult, thing to do- for yourself and for those who care about you. If you or anyone you know is experiencing any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, I strongly encourage you to seek support. You may reach out to your instructor for guidance to campus resources or contact West Valley College Health Services for free confidential personal counseling. Call 408-741-2027, drop by the Health Services office M-Th 9:00 am- 4:30 pm. http://www.westvalley.edu/services/counselingAdditionally, the Office of Student Needs offers student support in the form of the Computer Loan, Emergency Loans, Free Lunch & the Food Bank Programs. https://www.westvalley.edu/services/student-needs/
Special Accommodations: If you have a learning or physical need that will require special accommodations in this class you will need to notify me in writing of your accommodation needs. Please notify me following the first class if you require any special accommodations for learning or physical impairments. This will allow me to best meet your needs and allow us ample opportunity to provide suitable accommodations. West Valley College makes reasonableaccommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students with DESP accommodations must adhere to guidelines set by their specified accommodation, which includes discussing and scheduling any accommodation with the instructor in advance (minimum of 48hrs). Depending on accommodation exams may be proctored live on Zoom with DESP personnel and should be scheduled at the same time as scheduled for the class. DESP Rescheduling of exams and assignments remains in the purview of the instructor. College materials will be available in alternate formats (Braille, audio, electronic format, or large print) upon request. Please contact the Disability and Educational Support Program at (408) 741-2010 (voice) or (408) 741-2658 (TTY) for assistance.
UC California Naturalist Certificate: The mission of the California Naturalist Program is to foster a diverse community of naturalists and promote stewardship of California’s natural resources through education and service. Students have the opportunity to use their class hours and assignments towards fulfilling the certification requirements. Class hours, reading assignments, homework, field notebook and presentation (Capstone project) qualify toward certification. Students interested in certification must also pay the California Naturalist fee of $110 ($55 for full time students). See supplemental handout for requirements. California Naturalist website: includes volunteer portal and is a great resource for your journey as a California Naturalist. http://calnat.ucanr.edu
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory for student success. State & district policy mandates that students missing more than 10% of class hours without a district approved documented absence will be dropped- this is roughly equivalent to 4 class periods. Missing this much class is very detrimental to success in the course, so it is not advised to miss this much class time if you would like to be successful. It is the student’s responsibility to attend ALL classes. Classes will start on time and will run the entire time. schedule doctor appointments, dental appointments, baby sitters etc. accordingly. If you are absent for any reason, please notify me as soon as possible. If a student misses a lecture, it is his/her/their responsibility to obtain any handouts and information provided. Again, if a student is absent from more than four class sessions he/she/they will be DROPPED from the course. A portion of your grade will be determined by your in-class participation, so it is important that you attend all class sessions to earn all possible points. Students repeatedly missing class forfeit any and all extra credit points.
Students must successfully complete class preparatory requirements in order to participate in the field trip. This includes attendance to ALL class meetings. Students who miss class meetings will not be allowed to participate in the class field trip.
Withdrawing from the Course: Anyone not present in the beginning of the semester will be dropped. After the first class it is the responsibility of the student who registered to withdraw, even if he/she/they has stopped attending class. Do not assume that if you stop coming to class that you will automatically be dropped. Students who fail to attend but do not inform the instructor and officially drop the course will receive a failing grade.
Websites: This course will have active website pages which can be used to review lecture schedule and general class policies throughout the semester. This section has an instructor webpage designed to provide students information relevant to the course. Instructor’s syllabus with polices and lecture PowerPoint presentations will be made available to students weekly. These materials are highly beneficial to focusing your study time and if used properly will aid in your success in this course. Please keep in mind these resources are a privilege and not a right and may be discontinued at the instructor’s discretion. Students are also responsible for logging into the Canvas webpage daily to complete any homework assignments and check for course announcements or email updates. You will need to login to Canvas using your username and password. Instructions for logging on are provided on the following webpage. https://wvm.instructure.com/login/canvas Supplemental course materials will be available on the instruct webpage http://instruct.westvalley.edu/leticia-gallardo/
Canvas: Students are also responsible for logging into the course learning management system- Canvas webpage to submit homework/ assignments, take exams, check announcements and email updates relevant to the course. It is advised that students check this webpage daily. You will need to login to Canvas using your username and password. Instructions for logging on are provided on the following webpage. https://wvm.instructure.com/login/canvas
Cost
Students are responsible for course fees, purchasing books, and transportation for the field trip
Students are responsible also responsible for costs associated with travel, meals and camping equipment plus related expenses
AI Policy: Communication, analytical, and critical thinking skills are important elements of this course, and developing competencies in these areas will help prepare you for future coursework and in the workplace. Therefore, AI-generated submissions are not permitted and will be treated as a violation of the West Valley College Dishonesty Policy.
In submitting assignments, the student confirms that the work submitted is entirely their own work. As the instructor, I may follow up with a student on their submission of an assignment to verify authenticity.
Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is MANDATORY. The college policy on cheating is clearly spelled out in the college catalogue and will be strictly enforced. Use of any method other than your knowledge and memory (such as notes, looking on other student papers, communication between students, using internet browsing or AI software, etc.) to answer questions on an assignment/assessment/quiz constitutes cheating and will result in failure of the assignment/assessment/quiz. Dishonest behavior also includes: all forms of cheating, tampering, fabrication, plagiarism, and assisting on any assignment/assessment/quiz. This means that ALL YOUR WORK MUST BE IN YOUR OWN WORDS AND BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE. Using artificial intelligence software or copying from Google, other students, textbooks, sites like Chegg or other internet or published sources are all considered dishonest behavior. Any student caught exhibiting dishonest behavior will be appropriately reprimanded. Therefore, be proactive; keep your work to yourself and be sure that all work is your own, and in your own words. This includes any assigned group activities, while you may be working as a team, you must all participate and summaries or reports must be completed individually, in your own words. Any students caught or implicated in dishonest behavior will be appropriately reprimanded. Students will receive an AUTOMATIC ZERO on that assignment/assessment/quiz and all dishonest behavior will be reported to the Vice President of Student Services and will undergo review by the Disciplinary Action/ CSSO Committee. Resulting disciplinary action may include one or more of the following: academic probation, suspension, expulsion from the district colleges, and academic dishonesty transcript notation. Testing procedures & policies are detailed below. Students violating conduct or academic integrity policies will lose any extra credit points offered/earned. Students caught cheating will also forfeit any and all extra credit points.
Due to several incidents of cheating very strict testing procedures will be enforced!
1. Students will NOT be allowed to leave the testing “room” for any reason once the assessment has been administered. This includes: using the restroom, answering cell phones, searching web browsers, etc.
2. If you must leave the room you must turn in your assessment and forfeit your remaining time. I will only grade the portion of the assessment that you have completed.
3. Be on time! Once the first person leaves the assessment room, no one arriving late will be allowed to start the assessment.
4. All notes, books, and personal belongings will be either left outside the room.
5. Internet browser/windows other than the assessment page must be closed. Any student logged for navigating away from the canvas assessment page will receive a zero on the assessment.
6. Cell phones/pagers must be turned off during the assessment and placed in backpacks or purses. Ringing cell phones and/or pagers during assessments may result in failure of the assessment. If, for any reason, you answer a cell phone or pager during an assessment you must turn in your assessment and forfeit your remaining time.
7. Absolutely no papers (other than those provided by the instructor) are allowed on or around the student’s workspace.
8. Cheating will result in a zero on the assessment and probable expulsion from the class. All extra credit points will be forfeited.
If circumstance precludes you from adhering to these policies you must speak to your instructor PRIOR to the assessments.
Safety
Student safety in the class is a primary concern. In order to be safe, all students should be familiar with their surroundings. Safety rules will be outlined by the instructor in class. Any failure to follow these rules places you and your classmates in jeopardy. In the event of any injury the instructor must be notified immediately. This includes COVID-19 Safety. West Valley College/ Santa Clara County COVID safety protocols must be followed for all in person class meetings- on or off campus. Please review the COVID safety guidelines in the course module “WVC Biology Department COVID Information and Guidelines.”
Any student violating safety protocols, exhibiting disruptive or disrespectful behavior will be sent home immediately. It will be the responsibility of the student to arrange transport back to campus.
Campus Safety & emergencies: You should know the location of the first aid kit, fire extinguisher, eye wash, and nearest emergency phone. In the event of an emergency which requires the evacuation of the building (earthquake or fire), we will exit the building through the outside door and walk to parking lot #2. In this event you MUST remain with the instructor.
Field trip Safety & emergencies:
In order to ensure your safety the instructor must be aware of your location at all times. Be proactive and stay in contact with the instructor, do not assume that the instructor is aware of your activities. Students are not allowed to leave the group unless the activity has specifically been approved by the instructor. You should always know the location of the first aid kit. Students are responsible for following field safety protocol. If you are unclear with safety protocol- ASK!!
Field Trips: There are several field activities for the course- both local and to the Eastern Sierra. Students are responsible for completing field activities as a portion of their lab activities (i.e. worth points) that are an integral part of the class. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to the field study sites however once at the field location the group must remain together under the guidance of the instructor. Travel on the field portion of the course requires the fewest number of vehicles possible so students will need to carpool to minimize the number of vehicles. Students will travel together to the field sites and returning to campus at the end of the trip.
Evaluation
Participation/Class discussions (10%): Participation will be evaluated through attendance records and participation & performance in class meetings. Some ways in which to earn participation points are: 1) completing class activities; 2) attending class; 3) participation in discussions; 4) being preparation for in-class activities; 5) constructive behavior in class.
Assignments, Presentations/ Capstone Project (70%):
Assignments: Students will receive supplemental assignments to reinforce concepts covered in class. The goal of these assignments is to enhance the student learning experience and promote outreach, scientific literacy, advocacy, responsible citizenship and gain interpretive skills. Assignments may include items such as supplemental readings, lab activities, podcasts, research, iNaturalist & Field Notebook entries, etc. You will be responsible for completing assignments independently according to the instructions provided during class meetings. Assignments and quizzes will be accessible on Canvas. You may be completing assignments directly on Canvas or write your responses on a document which you will submit on Canvas. Once completed you will be responsible for scanning any written assignments as a single document and submitting it through Canvas. You may need a scanning app such as “notes” or “genius scan” to scan handwritten or drawn assignments. Note: For written work please write legibly, coherently, and in your own words- my standard policy is if I can’t read it, I can’t assign points! It is your role as a student to convey what you have learned and show that you understand the concepts, this should be clear in your responses. Students are responsible for checking the Canvas webpage for assignment updates. Students should expect a minimum of 10 homework assignments for the semester. Points will be allocated based on format, content, and completion of assignments. Late work will lose 10% of the point value per day (including weekends). Late work will be accepted for partial credit up to 5 days late. No late work will be accepted after the last day of active class.
Capstone project: As part of your assignments grade you will be required to produce an outreach/interpretation project. The purpose of this assignment is to provide you the opportunity to reinforce the material you have learned in class, apply the concepts to a topic/subject we did not cover, and to practice your outreach/ interpretation skills. For this assignment you will choose a topic that relates to a California plant or animal species, a community or conservation issue that interests you. Choose a topic or study organism that is exciting to you- this is a REQUIREMENT! You must find a topic that you want to learn more about and would like to share with others. This project will fulfill the Capstone project requirement for students seeking California Naturalist certification.
Presentation: Part of your course grade you will be required to give a class presentation. The purpose of this assignment is to provide you the opportunity to reinforce the material you have learned in class and apply the concepts we learn to a conservation or educational application. For this assignment you will choose a topic that relates to a California desert plant community or animal species that interests you. You may choose any topic or study organism that interests you. This is a REQUIREMENT! You must find a topic that you want to learn more about and would like to share with your classmates. Students seeking California Naturalist certification may complete a Capstone project to fulfill this requirement. Capstone Projects will be presented at the CNPS Wildflower Show on April 27th or Earth Stewardship Symposium on April 18th.
Field notebook A field notebook will be required for the field component of the course. Points will be allocated based on format, content, and completion of assignments.
Final exam (20%): A final exam will be administered at the conclusion of the course. The exam will consist of a combination of multiple choice, matching, short answer, labeling and identification questions. The final exam will be comprehensive. Attendance of scheduled exam is mandatory. There are NO make-up exams. Missing an exam may result in an incomplete grade for the course.
Your final course grade will be based on the following scale
Grade Calculations A 90-100% B 80-89% C 65-79% D 55-65% F Below 55%
A 3- unit grade will be given for the course. All points will be converted into a percentage score (pts earned ÷ pts possible) to calculate your final grade.
Final Exam …………………………………………………………..20%
Assignments……………………..……………………..……..…..70%
Participation……..………………………………………………...10%
Total Points Possible 100%
*If complications in projects cause assignments to be discontinued or if additional assignments are given, the percent scale of the adjusted points will be used to calculate grades.
Places to seek Additional Help:
Office Hours: M 1:00-2:00pm (Zoom); T 12:20-1:40pm (SM55); W 12:00-1:30pm (Zoom)
Form study groups: Your fellow classmates are a valuable resource
Support Services: Please take advantage of the support services on campus- They are here to help you! Services contact information is listed below
Tutoring: Tutorial Services: All students are eligible for free on campus tutoring. If you wish to get help you MUST make the commitment to attend any scheduled tutorial sessions. If any student misses 2 un-cancelled tutorial sessions they will be dropped from the program.
Important Phone Numbers:
Life threatening emergency- Campus phone……………..9-911 Counseling Center…………………741-2009
Student Health Services on campus……… ……………….741-2027 Bookstore………………………………741-2015
Safety Escort Service (Campus Police) ………………...…741-2092 Technology Center……………….741-2666
Science and Math Division office ……………………………741-2018 Success Center………..……….….741-2038
Extended Opportunity Programs & Service (EOPS)...741-2023
Disability & Educational Support Program (DESP)…..741-2010
Important Dates Holidays:
Last day to Add……………………………….Feb 11 President’s Day………….. Feb 16-19
Last day to drop without a “W” ……. Feb 11 Caesar Chavez Day………Apr 1
Last day to drop with a “W”………….. Apr 26 Spring Break………………. Apr 1- 6
General Information
- Students must be capable of hiking in mountain terrain and enjoy "roughing it."
- Hiking will be limited to day excursions. No overnight backpacking. This is not a backpacking class.
- Students will provide their own tents, sleeping bags and pads, hiking boots, daypack, and food.
- Food buying stops will be made at grocery stores to replenish stocks.
- Cooking equipment will be provided so students can prepare their own food.
- Overnight accommodations will be in camp areas with tables for food preparation and study.
- Although class (including lectures) will be held each of the days while in the field, there will be opportunities for study, solitude, and fun!
Camp Locations
Mono lake
Alabama hills
Death Valley
Sample visits and hiking excursions Sample Lecture Topics
Mono lake Value of Naturalists
Alabama hills Citizen Science
Sand dunes Biodiversity, Geology & Climate
Hike Titus canyon/ gold canyon Biotic zonation
Desert pupfish Plant communities & watersheds
Desert museum Plant & animal desert adaptations
Birds, mammals, fish, reptile ID and Natural history
Field Gear A variety of required and optional field gear is necessary for a field course. This gear should not be cost prohibitive, nor are you expected to go out and purchase equipment you do not have. If you do not have access to the required materials, please reach out and I am happy to help you find a solution. The department does have some gear to loan out. Don’t be shy, just ask!
Required: Optional:
Tent Camera & film
0-20 Degree sleeping bag Alarm clock
Insulated pad Sunglasses
Binoculars (Available for check out from Biology Dept) Bathing suit
Day pack Cap & Bandana
Mess kit & utensils Suggested packing
Headlamp/ flashlight 2 shirts (short/long)
Hiking boots, lightweight shoes 2 pants/ 2 shorts
Rain gear Toiletries
Sunscreen Contact lens supplies
Cold weather gear (Be prepared to layer) Insect repellant
Fleece, heavy jacket, hat, gloves Camp towel
Camp chair
What will be provided for you
Kitchen Supplies: Propane stoves, cutting boards, pots & pans, utensils, washing supplies, group cooler
General camp lantern
Basic first aid kit (no pharmaceuticals)
