Catalog Description

Hours: 13 (7 lecture, 6 laboratory)
Description: Field study that introduces local natural areas and their inhabitants. Selected ecosystems in Nevada County are investigated in the field to identify and study the characteristic plants and animals and discover their relationships with the physical environment. This class may require the ability to hike moderate distances on uneven ground. (CSU)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Describe and evaluate the impacts of humans on the environments of Nevada County.
  • CSLO #2: Describe the ecological and geological principles that affect the natural ecosystems of Nevada County.
  • CSLO #3: Explain the factors that have shaped the evolutionary adaptations of organisms in Nevada County.
  • CSLO #4: Accurately document and interpret ecological observations made on a field trip in Nevada County.

Effective Term

Fall 2022

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

13

Outside of Class Hours

14

Total Student Learning Hours

27

Course Objectives

Course objectives are linked to items listed in the course content outline (in parentheses)
Lecture Objectives:
1. Evaluate the factors that have affected the formation of the ecosystems of Nevada County. (Lecture Outline #1, #2, #3)
2. Apply ecological terminology to the description of the ecosystems of Nevada County. (Lecture Outline #1, #2, #3, #4, #5)
3. Describe the interactions that local organisms have with the biotic and abiotic factors of their ecosystems. (Lecture Outline #3, #4, #5, #6).
4. Explain the role that geology plays in the formation and delineation of ecosystems of Nevada County. (Lecture Outline #2, #3)
5. Analyze the past and present effects that humans have on the ecosystems of Nevada County. (Lecture Outline #3, #7)
Laboratory/Field Objectives:
1. Demonstrate the use of a dichotomous key or field guide to identify species. (Laboratory/Field Outline #1)
2. Identify geological features that impact the formation and function of ecosystems of Nevada County. (Laboratory/Field Outline #2)
3. Identify and observe the interactions that local organisms have with the biotic and abiotic factors of their ecosystems. (Laboratory/Field Outline #1, #2, #3, #4).
4. Identify examples of human impacts to ecosystems of Nevada County. (Laboratory/Field Outline #4)
5. Create a detailed field journal or summary report documenting the field experience. (Laboratory/Field Outline #5)

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
      • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
        • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)

          Articulation Information

          • CSU Transferable

          Methods of Evaluation

          • Projects
            • Example: To address Course Lecture Objective #3, "Investigate the interactions that local organisms have with the biotic and abiotic factors of their ecosystems," students might be asked, either individually or in groups, to prepare a short oral presentation or written report or participate in a class discussion about the major characteristics of a species of plant or animal occurring in Nevada County and its role in the ecosystem. Students could be evaluation on participation, accuracy of information, attention to details, and completeness.
          • Reports
            • Example: To address Course Lab Objective #5, "Create a detailed field journal or summary report documenting the field experience," students might be asked to write a report summarizing the ecosystem(s) visited, geological features observed, and species encountered. Students could be evaluated based on accuracy of information, attention to detail, and completeness of summary.
          • Skill Demonstrations
            • Example: To address Course Lab Objective #1, "Demonstrate the use of a dichotomous key or field guide to identify species," students might be asked to use a taxonomic key to correctly identify an organism. Students could be evaluated on the correctness of answer, technique, and application of terminology in the key.

          Repeatable

          No

          Methods of Instruction

          • Laboratory
          • Lecture/Discussion
          • Distance Learning

          Lab:

          1. To address Course Lab Objective #1, "Demonstrate the use of a dichotomous key or field guide to identify species", the instructor might lead the class in a demonstration of the use of a dichotomous key for a known specimen, and then guide students as they attempt the identification of unknown specimens.
          2. To address Course Lab Objective #2, "Identify geological features that impact the formation and function of ecosystems in Nevada County," the instructor might point out such key features in the field, making comparisons to other such geological features observed in the field or described in the classroom. Students will then make and record their own observations and comparisons.

          Lecture:

          1. To satisfy Course Lecture Objective #4, "Explain the role that geology plays in the formation and delineation of ecosystems of Nevada County," the instructor might present a lecture (supplemented by images and/or video) that explains the geological history of Nevada County, including what rock formations make up the area and how those have influenced the development of soils and species assemblages. Students will then make and record their own observations of geological features.
          2. To satisfy Course Lecture Objective #5, "Analyze the past and present effects that humans have on the ecosystems of Nevada County," the instructor might lead an in-class discussion about the historical impacts of humans on the ecosystems of Nevada County (e.g. agricultural impacts, aquatic impacts, etc.).

          Distance Learning

          1. To address Course Lecture Objective #1, "Evaluate the factors that have affected the formation of the ecosystems of Nevada County," the instructor might prepare a lecture to post online that explains the factors (e.g. geological history, climate, glaciation, etc.) that have impacted the formation of ecosystems in Nevada County. This online lecture might include text, audio (with transcript), and/or captioned video presentation of information. A student can demonstrate mastery of this objective in multiple ways, including correctly identifying evidence of past glaciation in Nevada County observed during the field portion of this class, or by describing the impact of soil qualities on observed vegetation in a field journal or field report. A student can demonstrate mastery of this objective in multiple ways. One example is to correctly identify (with sketches and/or narrative) in the course field journal the observation of glacial erratics in Placer County. Images and/or text from these field observations could be shared via a class discussion board or submitted digitally as part of an assignment via the course LMS. Another example is to participate in a class discussion via the LMS discussion boards and correctly attribute the observation of low-growing, hardy vegetation in the high Sierra to the thin, poor soils that are present in the formerly glaciated landscape.
          2. To address Course Lab Objective #4, "Identify examples of human impacts to ecosystems in Nevada County and evaluate the extent of those impacts," the instructor might guide the students in the online presentation and discussion (via an online discussion board, collaborative project, video conference, etc.) of collected observations of human impacts on local ecosystems.

          Typical Out of Class Assignments

          Reading Assignments

          1. To address Course Lecture Objective #2, students might be asked to read a handout that describes basic ecological terminology related to Nevada County and then apply this knowledge to descriptions of observations made in the field. 2. To address Course Lecture Objective #3 and Course Lab Objective #3, students might be asked to review the life history information from a handout or the Species Profile on the US Fish & Wildlife Service website for a threatened or endangered species that occurs in Nevada County and be prepared to discuss this in class.

          Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

          1. To address Course Lecture Objective #4 and Course Lab Objective #2, students might be asked to write and/or prepare a short oral presentation about a geological feature occurring in Nevada County. 2. To address Course Lab Objective #5, students might be asked to document their observations in the field in a journal, using any combination of text, sketches, photos, and/or other media.

          Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

          Required Materials

          • Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada
            • Author: Laws, John Muir
            • Publisher: California Academy of Sciences
            • Publication Date: 2007
            • Text Edition: 1st
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:
          • Pacific Coast Tree Finder
            • Author: Watts, Tom
            • Publisher: Nature Study Guild Publishers
            • Publication Date: 2004
            • Text Edition: 2nd
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:
          • The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling
            • Author: Laws, John Muir
            • Publisher: Heyday Books
            • Publication Date: 2016
            • Text Edition: 1st
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:

          Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.