This 15-credit course aims to teach students a wide range of methods for performing robust biological and geochemical sampling and analyses across terrestrial and marine systems through hands-on exploration of ecological theory, conditions and complexity relevant to False Bay and its contributing drainage basin. False Bay and its watersheds are ideal ‘classrooms’ for learning about estuarine and stream ecology and the key relationships between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. This is because the bay, a large sand flat open to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, is a biological preserve protected by the University of Washington. Freshwater enters the bay through False Bay Creek and several smaller drainages after passing through a variety of ecosystems, including forest, lake, wetland, and agricultural landscapes.

The estuary and its associated drainage basins have been the focus of historic biological studies and are also a priority of current preservation and habitat restoration efforts by a consortium of County, State, and local organizations seeking to improve water quality and conditions for fishes, including endangered Coho salmon. Student work will help bring clarity to the past, present and future of this unique system.

Geologic, hydrologic, chemical and biotic gradients in this system create opportunities for ecological investigations and diverse research questions of interest to individual students or small teams. Students will learn techniques and skills necessary to conduct sound ecological studies such as surveying and mapping (including using GIS), quantifying sediment grain sizes, sampling and identifying marine organisms, sensor building, nutrient sampling, drone image analyses, data analysis and management, and communication of results.Our goal is that course apprentices will contribute to an increased understanding of important ecological processes and phenomena in the False Bay ecosystem; this understanding is needed to effectively manage and restore terrestrial and marine systems. For instance, projects could include digitizing historic or archival maps and data; determining locations and densities of key biological organisms such as select vegetation, invertebrates, and birds; examining the relationships between policy, land use and the extent of marine and terrestrial vegetation; completing field observations and lab experiments to characterize interactions between organisms; recording nutrient levels and the growth of “nuisance” green algae or losses of benthos; measuring elevation changes; assessing saltwater intrusion into False Bay Creek; quantifying predation intensity of mobile mesopredators; collecting data on community composition of mobile fauna as it relates to spatio-temporal factors and the physical environment; or description of pore water (interstitial) nutrient composition across the bay. The opportunities are truly endless.

UW undergraduate students taking this course may be eligible for partial funding from the Mary Gates Endowment (MGE).

You can apply for FHL Autumn 2021 quarter here.