ESCI 1 LAB 

Lab 1 Kirsch Center 120 - Introduction to lab 

April 13th 

Lab 1 Introduction Lecture

 Lab 1 Activities - California Atlas

Lab 2 Kirsch Center 120 - Plant Communities

April 20th 

Lab 2 Activity- define the terms below in your notebook before next lab

Define: niche, community, dominant species habitat, limiting factors, endemic, rain shadow effect,orientation, biotic and abiotic elements, and adaptation, wildlife corridors

Why are wildlife corridors important and what would result if they were eliminated?

 Lab 2 Lecture - Plant Communities

 Lab 2 activities - ESA 

 Plant Communities Concept Map

Lab 3  Field Trip - Henry Cowell State Park - Natural History of SC Mt. 

April 27th 

Directions

Lab 3 assignments:

  • read and summarize the articles below
  • Search for the plants on the Henry Cowell Plant list in the Plant and Animal list website below

               write a description and draw the leaf shape of each

Henry Cowell plant list

Plant and Animal list website

Article: Fire Ecology

Article: Sandhill Preserve Expands

Lab 4 Field Trip: McClellan Ranch Park - Habitat Restoration 

May 4th

Directions


Lab 4 assignments:
to be included in your lab notebooks

  • define - resource partitioning, watershed, invasive species and biomagnification
  • read the article below and write a summary of the restoration that is being conducted in this park
  • go on the inaturalist.org create an account. 
    • take photos of at least 3 plants and 2 animals 
    • add it to your observations 
    • Identify and find any information you can about the species and write it in your notes.

Article: Steven's Creek Corridor

Lab 5 Field Trip: Ulistac Natural Preserve - Native American Land Use  

May 11th 

Directions

Lab 5 assignments: 

  • Do a google search on the Muwekma indigenous tribe which inhabited the Ulistac area.

              summarize their current status and why they are struggling to attain their culture.

  • Go onto inaturalist website and look up plants that exist in the Ulistac area. Add any that are not on our class list so far.
  • Go onto the Ulistac Natural Area website at ulistac.org

              read about the area

  • read the two short articles below and write a summary of the information

Article: Ulistac- A Hidden Gem

Article: Unlistac - History

Lab 6 Field Trip : McClellan Ranch Park -Water Quality     May 18th 

Directions    PARK IN THE OVERFLOW PARKING ACROSS THE BRIDGE PAST THE TURN OFF TO THE RANCH - THANKS

Lab 6 assignment:

Define in your notes - eutrophication, point source and nonpoint source pollution (what is the difference) , nutrient cycling, dissolved oxygen and turbidity

  • Read article on water quality below and summarize in your notes
  • Read article on Steelhead trout status and their natural history in the Bay Area and summarize the information

(click on their natural history link to the right ) 

  • review species list and trees we noted in lab 4
  • review the characteristics of the riparian community in your plant community concept map we filled out in the ESA

Article: New Maps Tell Story of Water Quality

Article: Central Coast Steelhead Trout

Lab 7 Field Trip : Kirsch Center KC120 - Soil health and Carbon Sequestration        May 25th 

Meet at 10:30 am

Lab 7 assignments:

  • Define in your notes: symbiotic relationship, green house gases, carbon sequestration, atmosphere, stratosphere, anaerobic microorganisms,  
  • Read and summarize the articles below

Article: The Concept of Geologic Carbon Sequestration

Article: Healthy Soil: Good for the Farmer, Good for the Planet

 Lab 7 powerpoint

Final Presentation subjects

Lab 8 Field Trip: Alviso National Wildlife Refuge- Saltwater Marsh      June 1st

Directions Meet at 11:00 am in the visitor center parking lot

Final Presentation subjects are due

Lab 8 assignments:

  • define: estuary, wetland, salt pond, brackish water and slough
  • Article: Coastal Wetlands, Environmental Protection Agency
    • What are the common characteristics of all Salt Water Marsh Ecosystems?
    • List the reasons why Salt Water Marsh Ecosystems are important.
    • At what rate and why are we losing our Salt Water Marshes?
    • What can we all do to protect these important ecosystems?

Lab 9   Field Trip: Coyote Valley-  Wildlife Corridors and quarter wrap up     June 8th

We will be meeting at the Anderson Lake Visitor Center on Malaguera Ave. at 11:00 am on June 8th for lab 9. Do Not Go to the Anderson Lake County Park!!!

The directions and a google map link are below

Directions

 Lab 9 assignments:

Lab Assignment Summary - This is a list of the assignment by lab that should be in your notebooks when you hand them in during lab #10

This is worth 100 points of your grade.   

Lab 10 Kirsch Center- KC 120 lab :  work on presentations   June 15th 

  • Shortened in lieu of Henry Cowell Field trip out at 12:00

  • Hand in lab notebooks

  • sign up for presentation time

Lab 11 Kirsch Center - KC 120 Lab: Final Presentations June 22nd

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