- Winter Ecology -
A Field Course at CU's Mountain Research Station
EBIO 4120, Sec 570

Spring 2008

Course Description | Course Specifics|
Instructor's Goals |  Words from Last Year's Students |
Health Matters | Required Personal Equipment | Syllabus| Acknowledgements

T Current Weather & Forecasts T

2006 Course: Class Roster | Individual Projects | Photo Gallery
2005 Course: Class Roster | Individual Projects | Photo Gallery

 | DETAILED WEEKLY ÀSCHEDULES AND & READINGS - WEEK 1 |  WEEK2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5
Course Description

Wintertime offers insights into the natural history of organisms and function of ecosystems that are not often appreciated in summer visits to the field.  Winter Ecology is a survey of physical and biological processes and their interaction in wintertime snow-covered environments.  Through classwork, fieldwork, and individual projects, we will focus on the dynamics of high-elevation ecosystems in the western US.  Based from the CU Mountain Research Station's new year-round Moores-Collins Lodge, we will spend 5 weekends exploring the ecology of upper montane, subalpine, and alpine landscapes in winter. We will study plant, vertebrate, and microbial adaptations to winter and the dynamics of terrestrial, aquatic, and snowpack environments.  We will consider how winter processes play a role in “growing season” dynamics, shape landscapes, and are important factors in conservation and management of natural resources of the Rocky Mountains.

Course Specifics
Course Description
Instructor
Location (also: Getting There)
Dates & Times
Registration
Costs
   Financial Aid Questions
Course Format
Prerequisites
Texts
Grading
University Course Policies
 * Pre-course Organizational Meeting- Updated (12/20)
Getting There
Course Flyer (downloads)
Instructor's Goals
Words from Last Year's Students
Health Matters
Required Personal Equipment (What To Bring)
Syllabus Also: 
DETAILED WEEKLY ÀSCHEDULES & & READINGS
- WEEK 1 | WEEK2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5

$Instructor: Dr. Timothy Kittel, INSTAAR
   Ÿ website: http://culter.colorado.edu/~kittel/
   Ÿ Instructor's goals
   Ÿ Instructor FCQ results:
   Ÿ email:  kittel@colorado.edu

TLocation: Mountain Research Station, University of Colorado, Boulder –
   Ÿ http://instaar.colorado.edu/research/mrs.html
   Ÿ http://www.colorado.edu/mrs/
   Ÿ Directions: see Getting there

ÀDates & Times: Sat 9 Feb - Sat 8 Mar 2008
  Ÿ 5 weekends; ending 2 weeks before Spring Break (24-28 March 08) 
  Ÿ Saturday – 9a-5:00p and 7-8.30p
  Ÿ Sunday – 9a-5:00p


 
 
 

Moores-Collins Science Lodge, 
Mountain Research Station
 


 
 
 
 
 
 

(photo: Alan Rosacker, Winter Ecology 2005)
 
Course Registration
 
  • Credits: 2

    •     - EBIO 4120, Sec 570
        - Open to students from all colleges and universities
     
  • Tuition & Fees: $ 950.

    •     - includes lodging
        - meals to be arranged separately (see pre-course organizational meeting)
        - sorry, no pets

    *Registration is through the Mountain Research Station –

  • Final Registration (with balance of tuition payment due) –
  • Final registration will be held in during the pre-course organizational meeting during the week prior to the first day of class at INSTAAR.
  • Financial Aid -
    • While MRS does not offer financial aid for its courses –
    • If you have financial aid through CU, you can use it to cover for course costs.  Contact the Station to make necessary arrangements (email mrs@colorado.edu, phone 303 492-8842).
    • If you are at another institution, please check with your financial aid office. 

    Textbooks

    &Required texts: 

    • Winter.  An Ecological Handbook, by J.C. Halfpenny and R.D. Ozanne.  1989. Johnson Books (Boulder, CO). ~$17. 
      • ISBN 1-55566-036-3
    • Life in the Cold.  An Introduction to Winter Ecology, by Peter Marchand.  3rd ed. 1996.  University Press of New England. ~$23.
      • ISBN 0-87451-785-0


      Both are available at -

      • Boulder Bookstore, downtown -- Lower Level (basement), West Room (Course section: under course name). Note: They offer a 10% discount on texts. 
      • CU Bookstore, UMC


      Are or will be available on Reserve -

      • in Norlin Library - 2 copies each
        • Halfpenny: QB637.8 .H35 1989
        • Marchand: QH543.2 .M37 1996
      • in INSTAAR Information Center (2nd floor RL-1) - 1 copy each
    & Outside reading: 
    • Winter World. The Ingenuity of Animal Survival, by Bernd Heinrich. 2003 (Ecco paperback edition 2004).  HarperCollins.  ~$25. (Publisher is currently out of stock.)
    • Autumn.  A Season of Change, by Peter Marchand.  2000.  University Press of New England.
    Note there are readings assigned for both days of the first weekend (see Week 1 readings)
     
    “The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbours, kindle it at home, communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all.” 
    - Voltaire

    Getting There:
     
  • Directions to the MRS from Boulder:  Map – pdf file (60k) 

    •  
  • To find the Lodge: 
    • When you arrive at the Station, there's a broad Y in the road.  To the right, you'll see the Marr Research Lab, and to the left, going uphill, is the road to the Lodge. 
    • After a short bit, you'll see two main buildings on the uphill side on your right.  The first building is the new Lodge and next to it the older Dining Hall. 
    • Park in front of or directly across from the Dining Hall.  Please do not block the access road in front of the Lodge. 

    Winter trek - 1950/60's?.  Photo source: Jim Snow.  Source & copyright notice
    		 Course Format

    MRS field courses –

  • MRS field courses are designed to provide students a hands on field research experience.  Each course emphasizes informal interaction with the instructors and fellow students. 
  • Course credit is readily transferable to other institutions. 
  • MRS classes meet the field course requirements for CU's Environmental Studies program
    • Winter Ecology –

    Grading
  • Evaluation is based on:  T Field exercises, 2 Individual project, ? Lab & field final exam, $Participation, and @ Field journal.
  • Grading breakdown: 
  • Due to scheduling constraints, there'll be no opportunity to make-up parts of the course including the exam
  • Final grades assigned as follows: A 90-100%, B 80-89%, C 70-79%,  D 50-69%,  F <50% 

    • (photo: Alan Rosacker, Winter Ecology 2005)

    Pre-course Organizational Meeting: Registration, Dinners & Carpooling 

    On Monday 28 Jan 08, there will be a pre-course organizational meeting ~two weeks prior to the start of the course for course registration (final payment due) and to discuss arrangements for group meals, carpooling to the Lab, equipment, etc.

  • Time: Monday 28 Jan 08, 5:15-6:15 pm
  • Place:  INSTAAR, East Campus - Rm 269, Building RL-1
  • RL-1 is located on the corner of 30th & Marine (nr Arapahoe) - across 30th from Scott Carpenter Pool.  Map [RL-1 is the building marked '71']
  • Buses: Both the Stampede and the Bound stop in front of INSTAAR on 30th.  The Leap's nearest stop is 30th and Arapahoe. RTD link

    • _______________________________
    Agenda:
    - Course Registration.  Final payment due.
    - Food. The Lodge has a fully equipped kitchen, but is relatively small.  To minimize the chaos and to be sure we're done with dinner before the evening program starts, I suggest we prepare Saturday dinners together.  We need to talk about how we'd like to organize this and if anyone has special dietary needs (e.g., vegetarian, etc.).
    - Carpool.  Most folks will be coming from the Boulder area, so we can explore carpooling possibilities at the meeting.  Related to this -- the last bit of road uphill to the Station can at times be slick with icey, packed snow, presenting problems for some cars.  This is handled easily by cars with 4-wheel/all-wheel drive.
    - Equipment - bring your equipment questions.  A personal field equipment list is on the webpage >>link.

    Other Logistics:
     

  • See information on Health matters and Personal equipment in preparation for the class's field work. 
  • Also see other sections in 'What to bring' for information on what's needed for staying at the Lodge, food, and computer facilities.

    • CU Winter Ecology with John Marr, 1946.  Photo source: Joyce Gelhorn.  Source & copyright notice

     

    @  For more information email Tim Kittel at kittel@colorado.edu

      Download course flyer – pdf file (160k)
    Download mini-slideshow – ppt file (7M)
     

    Instructor's Goal
     
    “A personal goal for me, as an instructor, [is] to foster familiarity with the nature of science.  There are many facets to understanding the world of science.  One is experiencing the process of accumulation and evaluation of scientific understanding – how do new ideas arise and how are they tested?  Another is developing the ability for independent thought, to be able to generate innovative ideas and [to] critically assess the results of others.  And finally, gaining what is often called a ‘sense of place,’ which is to say in this context, to start on the road to develop an intuitive, personal sense of how natural systems work.” 

                  – T. Kittel (Center for Environmental Research & Conservation Notes, Fall 2000, Columbia University, NY)

    Words from Previous Years' Students to Incoming Students
    – from 2005 & 2006 Student Course Evaluations
     
    Limnological field data collection, Gold Lake, CO. 
    Winter Ecology 2005 (photo: Alan Rosacker) 
    • “The Winter Ecology Field Course at CU Boulder's Mountain Research Station is like no other ecology course. Covering a wide range of topics, from climate to small mammals’ winter ways to plant distribution, it was a wonderful way to experience winter research conditions and a great introduction to ecology, from a winter perspective.  I would say prepare to work hard, and say ‘I didn't know that!’ a lot.”  (Spring 2005)
    • “There are few ways to get the hands on experiences a field course provides.”  (Sp 2005)
    • “The field exercises were great!  Everyone should take a course like this.”  (Sp 2006)
    • “Outside time was fantastic.  Being able to talk about a subject and then go study/observe was crucial.  ¶ Great course.  This was one of the best courses I've had at this university.  Field courses are great and should be required for all physical geography students.”  (Spring 2005)
    • “Expect to learn new things with fun people.  I thought this class was great.  Out of [my field courses], this was definitely my favorite field class.  ...  All of the guest speakers and teachers were awesome.  A really great experience!”  (Spring 2005)
    • “The format was great – mixing lecture, field, guest lectures, etc.”  (Spring 2005)
    Health Matters
    Most fieldwork will be in high elevation, snow-covered, and/or wind-blown areas.  Students must come prepared to do wintertime fieldwork under such conditions (see Required Equipment).  Participants need to be in good health and physical condition and aware of the physical stress of being out in high-elevation wintertime environments, including low oxygen, high exertion, and cold temperatures – those with respiratory or heart conditions are advised to consult their physician before enrolling.


    Required Personal Equipment
     
    Equipment required for field work includes, in the minimum:
    • Backcountry skis (telemark or touring) with climbing skins, or snowshoes (with sufficient floatation on unpacked snow and grip on packed/icy surfaces)
    • Extreme cold weather clothing and boots - sufficient to stay warm while standing about for substantial periods (e.g. 1 hr),
    • Ski goggles, skiing face mask or balaclava, day pack, ...
    Go to WHAT TO BRING! for a full listing of required and suggested equipment - 

    Syllabus -
    University Course Policies
    (Schedules etc. subject to modification)

    By Week:

    WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5
    DETAILED WEEKLY ÀSCHEDULES AND & READINGS - 2008:WEEK 1 | WEEK2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5
    By Topic:
    Physical Setting
    Avalanche Dynamics - guest lecture
    Snowpack & Climate
    Soil Processes
    Mammal Adaptions to Winter - guest lecture
    Winter Mammalogy
    Winter Limnology
    Microbial Stream Ecology, Antarctica - guest lecture
    Winter Ornithology
    Landscape Ecosystem Processes - guest lecture
    Vegetation
    Conservation - guest lecture
    		 By Project Assignment:
    Proposal due
    Draft write-up due
    Oral Presentations

    Monday – 28 January – Pre-course Organizational Meeting: Registration, Dinners & Carpooling

    Week I
    Saturday – 9 February (Schedule, Readings, & More Links)

    Arrive · * Check-in · Welcome: Dr. Tim Kittel, Instructor: Introductions · Site logistics: MRS Station Manager  · Course overview · Safety · Walk-about: Introduction to the Mountain Research Station (MRS) 

    Lecture/Field:
    Physical and Social Setting – Rocky Mountains physiography · Front Range geologic setting · Front Range socioeconomic context (regional urban centers, local development, traditional use, recreation).  Hike: Introduction to Niwot Ridge and vicinity. Evening Guest Lecture - Avalanche Dynamics and Safety – Spencer Logan, Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC)  -- 
  • Related links: CAIC
    		•

    Sunday – 10 Feb (Schedule, Readings, & More Links)

    Lecture/Field: 
    Winter Climate and Snow Processes  – Mountain winter climates (light, thermal, moisture, wind regimes) · Dynamics of mid-latitude winter storms · Snowpack development, analysis of snow profiles · Deposition patterns and ecology · Avalanches and disturbance ecology. – Guest field instructor: Kurt Chowanski, MRS, CU


    Snow redistribution, Niwot Ridge


    Snowpack analysis. 
    Winter Ecology 2005. (photo: Alan Rosacker) 

    Tundra soil profile, showing high root:shoot ratio.  Green Lakes Valley, Niwot LTER.
     
     
     
     

    Snowshoe Hare 
    (Lepus americanus)

    Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys talpoides) subnivean tubes
    (source: Niwot LTER)    		 Week II 
    Thursday – 14 Feb

    2Individual projects:
    Proposals due  (Proposal Guidelines)

    Saturday – 16 Feb (Schedule, Readings, & More Links)

    Lecture/Field: 
    Winter Soil Ecology – Soil fauna/flora biodiversity · Biogeochemical cycles · Snow chemistry and atmospheric deposition. – Guest field instructor: Dr. Allen Meyer, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, CU
     

    Evening Guest Lecture:
    Mammal Adaptations to Winter– Dr. Gregory Florant, Dept. of Biology, Colorado State University

    Sunday – 17 Feb (Schedule, Readings, & More Links)

    Lecture/Field: 
    Winter Mammalogy  – Winter adaptations (morphological, physiological, behavioral) of mammals – Guest field instructor: Sheryn Olson


    Alpine Snow Mold - (Allen Meyer, CU)

    Soil CO2 flux analyzer, lodgepole pine 
    forest, MRS.  Winter Ecology 2005. 
    (photo: Alan Rosacker)












     

    Mid-winter active stream, MRS. Winter Ecology 2005 (photo: Alan Rosacker)
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     


    White-Tailed Ptarmigan
    Lagopus leucurus,Niwot Ridge
    (source: W. Bowman

    		 Week III
    Saturday – 23 Feb (Schedule, Readings, & Links)

    Lecture/Field: 
    Aquatic Systems in Winter – Winter stream ecology · Winter limnology · Seasonal dynamics in inputs (snowmelt), nutrients, and light · Snow biology – Guest field instructor:  Dr. Sarah Spaulding, US Geological Survey, Denver and INSTAAR, CU 

    Resources: Winter Limnology of 3 Colorado Mtn Lakes (pdf, 3M), The Ecology of Alpine Streams (pdf, 220k)
    Evening Guest Lecture: 
    Ecology of Other Cold Biomes: Stream Ecosystems of the McMurdo Dry Valleys  – Josh Koch, INSTAAR, CU

    Sunday – 24 Feb (Schedule, Readings, & Links)
    2Individual projects: Lecture/Field:
    Winter Ornithology  – Winter adaptations of birds and their ecology – Guest field instructor: Arvind Panjabi, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory 

    Drilling through the ice in prep for vertical profiling Gold Lake, CO. Winter Ecology 2005 (photo: Alan Rosacker)















    Lake Bonney.  Taylor Dry Valley Lakes, 
    Antarctica.  (source: J. Priscu, Montana State)

    Krummholz vegetation, Niwot Ridge
     

    Ribbon Forests, Niwot Mountain 
    (photo: G. Kittel)    		 Week IV
    Saturday – 1 March (Schedule, Readings, & Links)

    Lecture/Field: 
    Vegetation Winter Ecology – Front Range plant associations · Landscape patterns (effects of altitude, aspect, substrate, freeze/thaw, snow deposition) · Wintertime plant id · Plant ecophysiology (adaptations to winter by lifeform - e.g., deciduous vs. evergreen strategies). – Guest field instructor: Gwen Kittel, NatureServe, Western Resource Office, Boulder, CO

  • Related links:Niwot Ridge Vegetation, and Tundra Vegetation Communties (including Map)
    • Resources:  Ecosystem Descriptions (RMNPk), Aspen
     
     


    Engleman Spruce, Spruce-Fir Forest, 
    Niwot Ridge Research Area  (photo: G. Kittel)

    Evening Guest Lecture:
    The Alpine-Subalpine Landscape Continuum – Dr. Tim Seastedt, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology & INSTAAR, CU
     
    Sunday – 2 March (Schedule, Readings, & Links) 
    2Individual projects –
    Oral presentations  (Presentation Guidelines)
     

    Lab:
    Invertebrate Winter Ecology – Winter activities of forest ‘pests’ and other terrestrial invertebrates.

    Week V
    Saturday – 8 March (Schedule and Links)

    Final Exam: ?Lab & Field exam
    Turn in @Field Journals
    @Student Course Evaluations:  CU 'FCQ' form & Winter Ecology Feedback Questionnaire [doc, 60k]
     

    Evening program: 

    • Farewell dinner 
    • Evening Guest Lecture - TBA 
     
    Other Related CU Links
    University Course Policies –

    In and Out of Classroom Behavior

    Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment.  Students who fail to adhere to behavioral standards may be subject to discipline.  Faculty have the professional responsibility to treat students with understanding, dignity and respect, to guide classroom discussion and to set reasonable limits on the manner in which students express opinions.  See policies at <http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html> and at <http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code>.

    Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities.  Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the
    student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records.

    Discrimination and Harassment

    The University of Colorado at Boulder policy on Discrimination and Harassment, the University of Colorado policy on Sexual Harassment, and the University of Colorado policy on Amorous Relationships apply to all students, staff and faculty.  Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550.  Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at: <http://www.colorado.edu/odh>.

    Academic Integrity (Honor Code)

    All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution.  Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior.  All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-725-2273).  Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion).  Additional information on the Honor Code can be found at <http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html> and at <http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/>.

    Students should note that their work may be evaluated through TurnItIn.com, a plagiarism service provided to all faculty at CU-Boulder; and that this service retains a copy of the submitted work for future comparisons.

    Accommodation for Religious Obligations

    Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance.  In this class, please notify me of anticipated conflicts before the start of the course or as early as possible so that there is adequate time to make necessary arrangements.  See policy details at <http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html>.

    Course Description | Course Specifics | Instructor's Goals
     Words from Last Year's Students| Health Matters | Required Personal Equipment | Syllabus

    DETAILED WEEKLY ÀSCHEDULES AND & READINGS -2006:- WEEK 1 | WEEK2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5

    Course CD and website including all internal links © 2008 T. Kittel.  All rights reserved.  All copyrighted material on this CD and website is made available for limited educational use only (commerical use strictly prohibited).
    Photographs property of sources as credited.  Unless otherwise noted, photos courtesy of http://instaar.colorado.edu/research/mrs.html, http://www.colorado.edu/mrs/, and http://culter.colorado.edu/Niwot/Niwot_Ridge_LTER_vegetation.html (some of these sourced from: Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture webpage http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/orders.html)

    Please email website problems to:   kittel@colorado.edu
    this page URL: http://culter.colorado.edu/~kittel/WinterEcology.html
    Page updated: 11 Mar  08