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GEO2-24397.5 ECTSQ4EnglishBachelor

Ecological Field Research

FaculteitFaculty of Geosciences
NiveauBachelor
Studiejaar2026-2027

Beschrijving

Course goals

Please note: the information in the course manual is binding.

After completion of the course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain and discuss common methods used in the field to collect ecological and environmental data that can be used to answer research questions
    1. The student can discuss common experimental designs and methods used in field ecology to monitor biodiversity, characterize soil abiotic properties, and measure water quality.
    2. The student is aware that each method has its limitations and is able to discuss the pros and cons of common methods used in field ecology to monitor biodiversity, characterize soil abiotic properties, and measure water quality.
    3. The student can apply various (statistical) methods to compare species composition and quantify species diversity in ecological communities (including Hill numbers). 
  2. Choose appropriate scientific methods to collect high-quality measurements and successfully apply these methods in the field
    1. The student can choose appropriate experimental designs and data collection methods to answer research questions related to monitoring biodiversity, characterizing soil abiotic properties, and measuring water quality.
    2. The student can successfully apply these methods in the field and in the laboratory.
    3. The student can visually identify the most common plant species found on the fieldwork sites used in this course and can provide their scientific name.
    4. The student can independently measure the pH of a soil sample in the lab after being instructed.
  3. Apply data management principles to document, structure, manage, and share data collected in the field in accordance with the highest scientific standards
    1. The student can explain basic principles of data management for scientific research.
    2. The student can make use of data management principles to document and structure field-collected data in a field notebook using a clear and legible format.
    3. The student can apply data management principles to digitize and share data collected in the field in a tidy format suitable for analysis using R statistical software.
  4. Explore, visualize and analyze ecological and environmental data in a scientifically sound manner
    1. The student can explore and visualize field-collected data in the R environment.
    2. The student can apply basic data visualization principles to create high-quality figures suitable for a research report or a publication.
    3. The student can analyze their data using appropriate statistical tools to answer their research questions.
    4. The student can write reproducible R code in a well-documented and clearly annotated Quarto document.
  5. Write a research paper in which research results are presented, interpreted, and discussed in a concise, clear, and accurate way
    1. The student can write a scientific paper that presents the results of their analysis in a concise, clear, and accurate way.
    2. The student can discuss and evaluate these results in relation to the existing scientific literature.
    3. The student can discuss the limitations of their study, particularly with regard to the methods used in the field to collect data.
  6. Orally present and compare results obtained by different students and identify possible sources of variation
    1. The student can design a clear and visually engaging poster that synthesizes results from multiple students working on a similar research question.
    2. The student can analyze and articulate plausible explanations for differences in results obtained by various contributors to the research question.
    3. The student can deliver an oral presentation of their poster to peers, demonstrating clarity, confidence, and engagement.
    4. The student can provide clear and structured answers to questions from peers about the poster presentation.
 

Content

Conducting research is not something you can improvise. It requires thorough planning and execution, especially in ecology where research questions are often complex and field conditions can be challenging (bad or extreme weather, tough terrain, remote areas, etc.). Before heading out into the wild, we need to make important decisions about how we are going to gather ecological data and analyze it to answer our research questions and test our hypotheses. This means figuring out the sampling design we will use and choosing the right techniques and tools for collecting samples and meaningful ecological data about natural processes and biodiversity. But it is not a simple task. Researchers have to consider a number of factors that could impact the success of their research project — like variations in the landscape, potential biases and errors from observers, equipment costs and availability, and the pros and cons of different sampling methods. Even after data collection, researchers need to manage, visualize, explore and analyze their data properly before they can communicate their findings to their peers, to policymakers, and to society at large. All these steps require special attention, as they can affect the reliability of research results and their potential impact on developing solutions towards a more sustainable future.

The main objective of this course is to acquire the skills needed to plan ecological fieldwork and collect high-quality data in the field and in the laboratory on biotic and abiotic variables using appropriate sampling techniques. This course will also give you the knowledge and tools to manage, visualize, explore, and analyze complex ecological datasets using best scientific practices, as well as to correctly interpret results taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of the research design (e.g., sampling limitations, observer bias, etc.).

The course consists of lectures, live coding sessions, hands-on tutorials, lab and fieldwork activities, as well as one or two excursions.
 

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