Field Methods Lab

Provides hands-on grounding in the processes of environmental field research and monitoring used to address ecological, conservation, and management questions, while getting to know the diversity of habitats across the living laboratory of the UCSC campus. Students develop a broad range of field skills including natural history, habitat description, and sampling methods for plants, animals, soils, water, and microclimate. Students also become adept at observational and experimental study design, data handling, statistical analysis, interpretation, and presentation using the R statistical language. This is a field-based, experiential learning course but does not require overnight or weekend field trips.