Announcements
22 April 2016 C.E.

I'm sorry that I forgot to mention that, since we didn't have the preparede specimens available for the soil exercise, you may skip the last two questions of the worksheet. Enjoy the weekend.
20 April 2016 C.E.

I want to give you some time after your presentations to finish up your papers, so let's have the individual papers be due by 23:59 on 1 May.
20 April 2016 C.E.

Once more, I'm switching my Wednesday office hour to Friday at noon.
16 April 2016 C.E.

Here are the soil data:

Team Alex
Team Bradley
Team Brittany
Team Rachel
Team Jordan
11 April 2016 C.E.

Quiz 10 is available.
06 April 2016 C.E.

As far as regards the presentation for the independent project, there are not many strict guidelines. However, your presentation must be saved in PowerPoint format (either .ppt or .pptx), and you should bring your presentation to the laboratory saved on a USB drive. If no one in the group owns a USB drive, then contact me. One member must also submit the document to Blackboard. All members must contribute equally to the creation of the slide show, and the names of all contributors should appear on the opening slide. The content and format are largely up to you, but most scientific presentations at least roughly follow the formatting of journal articles. That is, usually there are some slides presenting background information, some slides explaining what you did, some slides presenting results, some slides explaining the results and discussing the importance (in this case the ecological importance), and then references and acknowledgements. You should expect to field questions from the spectators after your presentation. You should strive to have a good mix of text and pictures with a visually appealing arrangement. Also, try to have just the right density of text. Too much text is just going to be too hard to read for the spectators. Keep in mind that you will be speaking, and you can add detail to the text as you speak. Try not to simply read the slides; make your voiced presentation engaging. Run through the presentation several times for practice; don't have your presentation to the class be your first attempt at it. The slides throughout should incorporate citation, where appropriate. Any image that you use but that you did not make must include a citation directly below the image, and a full reference must be included in the list of references. Don't use images that are forbidden by the owner to be used. Try to time your presentation so that you spend no more than fifteen minutes. Each member must speak during the presentation, and the amount of time speaking should be about equal among members.
05 April 2016 C.E.

My Wednesday office hour for 06 April has been moved to Friday 08 April 12:01-13:01.
30 March 2016 C.E.

Since I didn't finish the comments on the R&D sections until today, feel free to take to the end of Sunday for the Plant Transect paper.
28 March 2016 C.E.

There is no quiz this week.
22 March 2016 C.E.

Quiz 09 is available.
18 March 2016 C.E.

Here are the data from the plant transects.
15 March 2016 C.E.

Quiz 08 is available.
14 March 2016 C.E.

Owing to the third (and final) field trip, I am forced to cancel my office hour for 16 March. So far, these cancellations seem to have affected zero students. Nevertheless, notify me if you had intended on convening.
12 March 2016 C.E.

Here are the census data.
11 March 2016 C.E.

Since the processing of the data was done by someone else, and there was a delay, I'm forced to postpone the due date of Result & Discussion to 23 March. I hope you don't mind. The data will hopefully be posted here today.
01 March 2016 C.E.

Because of a second field trip, my office hour for 02 March is canceled. If you intended on meeting with me, please email me so that I can schedule something that will work for you.
28 February 2016 C.E.

Quiz 07 is available.
28 February 2016 C.E.

DO NOT GO TO THE LABORATORY THIS WEEK! We'll meet at the Piestewa Park Preserve (40th Street south of Shea Boulevard, the same parking lot as for A Walk in the Park). Here is the map for the Piestewa transects.

The randomized assignments are as follows:

Group Student First transect Second transect
1 Shaddi E1 W1
1 Mark E1 W1
1 Kaylee E1 W1
1 Lauren E1 W1
2 Emily E2 W2
2 Brittany E2 W2
2 Bradley E2 W2
3 Fadi E3 W3
3 Samuel E3 W3
3 Jordan E3 W3
3 Lisa E3 W3
4 Jennifer E4 W4
4 Rachel E4 W4
4 Alexandru E4 W4
5 John E5 W5
5 Kaleigh E5 W5
5 Leah E5 W5
5 Dipendra E5 W5

26 February 2016 C.E.

Here are the species data for neophobia. The data for feeder 9 were somehow lost.

Time Period
1st Feeder Mourning dove Inca dove Gambel's quail House sparrow Abert's towhee House finch
1 0.33 0 0.23 0.1 0.6 0.7
2 0 0 0 0 0.4 0.43
3 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 0.033 0 0 0 0 0
5 0.5 0 0 0 0 0
6 0.67 0.15 0 0.167 0.067 0.1
7 0.03 0 0 0 0 0.23
8 4.07 0 2 0.13 0 0.33
10 8.5 0.167
0.133 0.267 0.267
11 0 0 0.27 0.07 0.33 0
12 0.4 0 0 0.1 0.06 0.13














2nd Feeder Mourning dove Inca dove Gambel's quail House sparrow Abert's towhee House finch
1 0.164 0 0.6 0 0.5 0
2 0 0 0 0 0.73 0.8
3 0.17 0 0 0 0 0
4 0.033 0 0 0 0 0
5 1.27 0 0 0 0.6 0.03
6 0.2 0.03 0 0 0 0
7 0 0 0 0 0.03 0.83
8 2.93 0 0.57 0 0 0.63
10 3.23 0.1 0.27 0.73 0.33 0.47
11 0 0 0 0.33 0 0
12 0.3 0 0.1 0.13 0 0.16














3rd Feeder Mourning dove Inca dove Gambel's quail House sparrow Abert's towhee House finch
1 0 0 0.21 0 0 0
2 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 0.066 0 0 0 0 0.2
5 0.57 0 0 0 0.17 0.1
6 0 0 0 0.03 0 0
7 2.43 0 0 0 0 3
8 3.4 0 0.83 0 0 1.53
10 0.967 0 0 0.1 0.2 0.1
11 0.2 0 2.17 1.4 0 1.8
12 0.47 0 0.47 0.8 0.1 0.4


Treatment
Control Feeder Mourning dove Inca dove Gambel's quail House sparrow Abert's towhee House finch
1 0.33 0 0.23 0.1 0.6 0.7
2 0 0 0 0 0.4 0.43
3 0.17 0 0 0 0 0
4 0.033 0 0 0 0 0
5 0.57 0 0 0 0.17 0.1
6 0.67 0.15 0 0.167 0.067 0.1
7 0 0 0 0 0.03 0.83
8 3.4 0 0.83 0 0 1.53
10 8.5 0.167
0.133 0.267 0.267
11 0 0 0.27 0.07 0.33 0
12 0.47 0 0.47 0.8 0.1 0.4














Unfamiliar Feeder Mourning dove Inca dove Gambel's quail House sparrow Abert's towhee House finch
1 0.164 0 0.6 0 0.5 0
2 0 0 0 0 0.73 0.8
3 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 0.066 0 0 0 0 0.2
5 1.27 0 0 0 0.6 0.03
6 0 0 0 0.03 0 0
7 0.03 0 0 0 0 0.23
8 4.07 0 2 0.13 0 0.33
10 3.23 0.1 0.27 0.73 0.33 0.47
11 0.2 0 2.17 1.4 0 1.8
12 0.4 0 0 0.1 0.06 0.13














Threatening Feeder Mourning dove Inca dove Gambel's quail House sparrow Abert's towhee House finch
1 0 0 0.21 0 0 0
2 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 0.033 0 0 0 0 0
5 0.5 0 0 0 0 0
6 0.2 0.03 0 0 0 0
7 2.43 0 0 0 0 3
8 2.93 0 0.57 0 0 0.63
10 0.967 0 0 0.1 0.2 0.1
11 0 0 0 0.33 0 0
12 0.3 0 0.1 0.13 0 0.16
24 February 2016 C.E.

This free app could be very useful today.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/handy-tool-set-for-daily-use/id723302560?mt=8
24 February 2016 C.E.

Use this map for the transects today.

Meet in the laboratory promptly at 15:00. The randomized assignments are as follows:

Group Student First transect Second transect
1 Rachel E1 W1
1 Alexandru E1 W1
1 Kaleigh E1 W1
1 Brittany E1 W1
2 Leah E6 W2
2 Emily E6 W2
2 Lauren E6 W2
3 Fadi E3 W3
3 Kaylee E3 W3
3 Jordan E3 W3
3 Mark E3 W3
4 Bradley E4 E2
4 Lisa E4 E2
4 Samuel E4 E2
5 Dipendra E5 W4
5 Shaddi E5 W4
5 Jennifer E5 W4
5 John E5 W4

23 February 2016 C.E.

Don't worry about finishing the neophobia worksheet by tomorrow. I'll have more to say about it in class.
22 February 2016 C.E.

There were some incorrect values in the data. The following are correct.

Feeder # Time Period Treatment
1st 2nd 3rd control unfamiliar threat
1 1.96 1.26 0.21 1.96 1.26 0.21
2 0.83 1.53 0.00 0.83 1.53 0.00
3 0.00 0.17 0.00 0.17 0.00 0.00
4 0.03 0.03 0.27 0.03 0.27 0.03
5 1.00 1.90 0.83 0.83 1.90 1.00
6 1.07 0.23 0.03 1.07 0.03 0.23
7 0.26 0.86 5.43 0.86 0.26 5.43
8 6.77 4.30 6.40 6.40 6.77 4.30
9 4.72 4.83 3.92 4.72 4.83 3.92
10 7.37 5.97 1.30 7.37 5.97 1.30
11 0.67 0.33 12.71 0.67 12.71 0.33
12 0.82 0.69 2.30 2.30 0.82 0.69

22 February 2016 C.E.

Quiz 06 is available.
18 February 2016 C.E.

Here are the class data.

Feeder # Time Period Treatment
1st 2nd 3rd control unfamiliar threat
1 1.96 1.26 0.21 0.96 1.26 0.96
2 0.83 1.53 0.00 0.83 1.53 0.00
3 0.00 0.17 0.00 0.17 0.00 0.00
4 0.03 0.03 0.27 0.03 0.27 0.03
5 1.00 1.90 0.83 0.83 1.90 1.00
6 1.07 0.23 0.03 1.07 0.03 0.23
7 0.26 0.86 5.43 0.86 0.26 5.43
8 6.77 4.30 6.40 6.40 6.77 4.30
9 4.72 4.83 3.92 4.72 4.83 3.92
10 7.37 5.97 1.30 7.37 5.97 1.30
11 0.67 0.33 12.71 0.67 12.71 0.33
12 0.82 0.69 2.30 2.30 0.82 0.69

18 February 2016 C.E.

Allow me to eliminate the confusion.

The Introduction section is, indeed, about the Neophobia experiment. Let's make that due (via SafeAssign) on 02 March.

I'm still missing the data from Station 1. When I receive those, I'll post the compiled data.
17 February 2016 C.E.

Instructions for the neophobia experiment:

Obtain materials in the laboratory promptly at 15:00.
Work only at the feeder station to which you are assigned.
Be sure to allow a full ten minutes before counting for each treatment. Use that first ten minutes reviewing the field guide, so you know how to recognize all seven species.
Remain far enough away to prevent disturbance of the birds.
Remain as still and silent as possible.
If you happen to be at a station to which two students are assigned, each of you should work independently and obtain your own counts without comparison. After you return to the laboratory, you should average your counts for each period to make up for any differences in your counts. Only one set of data (the averages, rounded upwardly to integers) will be entered into the class record.
Make sure you follow the correct sequence of treatments (listed on your map). In your listed sequence, "C" stands for control (no additional object next to the seed tray); "U" stands for unfamiliar object (place the empty bucket at one corner of the seed tray); and "T" stands for threatening object (place either the owl model or the snake model at one corner of the seed tray). THIS LISTING WILL PROBABLY BE A DIFFERENT ORDER FROM YOURS.
After all three treatments, return to the laboratory with all materials you took to the site.

Mourning dove MD.JPG
White-winged dove WWD.JPG
Inca dove ID.jpg
Gambel's quail GQ.JPG
House sparrow HS.JPG
House finch (male) HFm.JPG
House finch (female) HFf.JPG
Abert's towhee AT.jpg

14 February 2016 C.E.

Quiz 05 is available.
10 February 2016 C.E.

In the interest of fairness, I want to let everyone know how I assess late penalties for papers. The due date listed on the syllabus is the official due date, which means if you submit a paper via SafeAssign by that date, you will be guaranteed not to be assessed a lateness penalty. However, depending on other various duties in my several courses, I might not be able to start grading the papers right away. In that case, I do not count a paper as late as long as it was submitted to SafeAssign by the time I start grading that assignment for everyone in the class. So, to be absolutely sure that you will not lose any credit for lateness, always submit by the official due date. If you do NOT make the due date, what that effectively means is that you are making a bet that I will not start grading that paper before you submit it. Keep in mind, by the bye, that all papers (including the one that is due this week) must be submitted via SafeAssign on Blackboard. I do not accept hard copies.
09 February 2016 C.E.

On 10 February, for A Walk in the Park, we will meet at the Piestewa Preserve. DO NOT GO TO THE LABORATORY. The preserve is at the north side of the park. Take 40th Street south of Thunderbird and you will end up in the parking lot. South of Shea, 40th Street makes a dead end in the parking lot of the preserve, as you see in the linked map:

https://goo.gl/maps/ixaCNPKf9XP2

Make sure you:

Because of the field trip, I will not have my Wednesday office hour. If you had planned on meeting with me, please email me.
05 February 2016 C.E.

I have opened up the Upload area on Blackboard. That's where you will be submitting all papers. Also, some of you might be confused about how to process your cricket data. A regression analysis (using the statistics workbook you used for the t-tests last time) will provide the slope of the line of best fit. You should do this for both batches of data (raw and log-transformed). The regression output will also provide a p value to tell you whether the slope is significantly different from 0. However, you are actually interested in how different the slope of the log-transformed regression is from the predicted slope (the scaling factor of 2/3, as discussed in the PDF). You are not required to run a statistical test to determine whether the observed slope of the log-transformed regression significantly differs from 2/3. Rather you are making a qualitative comparison.
04 February 2016 C.E.

I distinctly remember telling the every student in the class to ENSURE that all the data are recorded before leaving the laboratory. That's why I'm so confused that the vast majority of students left the laboratory after only ASSUMING that the data had been recorded.

Data
30 January 2016 C.E.

The PDF for the next meeting (and the corresponding quiz) are now available.
25 January 2016 C.E.

Quiz 02 is available.
19 January 2016 C.E.

Please complete the quiz on Blackboard as soon as possible and certainly before the cutoff (15:00 on 20 January 2016 C.E.).
19 January 2016 C.E.

I'm sorry for the late notice, but I forgot to announce that I need to cancel my office hour for today (Tuesday). If that causes any problem, please email me immediately.
13 January 2016 C.E.

The course syllabus is now available. We WILL meet today.
13 December 2015 C.E.

Greetings.

Welcome to LSC322. For various reasons, I am choosing to use my own website (this one) for this course, but from time to time you will be required to visit the Blackboard site to submit assignments. If any item in the menu to the left is unavailable as a link, that is because the corresponding page is being amended. When changes have been made, the menu item will become an active link.

You are required to check these announcements daily throughout the semester, and any announcements that appear here will be official. It is a good idea to take a few minutes right now and familiarize yourself with this website. You should also take a look at the global site to see whether there is anything that might be helpful to you in any of your courses. For instance, at the global site you'll find a links to my other courses, including my lecture recordings and slide shows. It would be silly not to at least take a look to see what's there that might help you.

The very best thing that you can do for yourself is to pay very close attention to all instructions. This means listening carefully to me (and making notes) whenever I'm speaking, and it means carefully reading everything on this website and in the course materials. Put simply, I want you to be able to follow directions. This might sound like a simple request that shouldn't even need to be mentioned. But if you were an instructor, you would realize that, sadly, most undergraduates are either unable or unwilling to carefully read a set of instructions. Reading comprehension will be required not only for this course, but for all of your career. So please keep in mind that you're not here just to get a grade; you're preparing yourself for life after graduation. Do yourself a favor and pay close attention to detail. Doing so will pay off in the short run and in the long run.

I'll see you soon.

Ty

Be sure to IMMEDIATELY read and submit the Rules Consent form. This is also strictly required.