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ZO 501 Ornithology - Spring 2007
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As part of the Laboratory for ZO 501, students will assess changes in the avian communities of Raleigh since 1938. Using Dr. Tom Quay's thesis as a reference, teams of students will duplicate the bird censuses conducted by Dr. Quay in 1938 and 1939. The photographs presented in the thesis are reproduced here:
Plate 1
Plate 2
Plate 3As an additional resource, examine the data from the Raleigh Christmas Bird Count
WINTER AVIAN COMMUNITIES IN RALEIGH: An assessment of changes in species composition and abundance, 1938 - 2007.
Dr. Tom QuayThe goal of this exercise is to gain an appreciation for the process of planning, carrying out, and interpreting an avian field study. We will compare the current species composition and abundance of winter bird communities and habitats in Raleigh with data collected by Dr. Tom Quay as part of his Master's degree in 1938-39. The objective of past course projects was to understand how changes in land use have changed Raleigh's winter bird communities over the past 60 years. The focus of research in 2007 will be to design a monitoring program to document changes in avian communities associated with development at Centennial Campus. Dr. Quay's thesis and data collected by ZO 501 classes in 1997, 1999, and 2001 will serve as our benchmark. We want each team to develop a monitoring strategy that will contribute to our understanding of how development on Centennial Campus has affected bird diversity and abundance.
Approach/expectations
1) The class will be divided up into teams of 4 people. Check the web to find your collaborators.
2) Review Dr. Quay's thesis and previous ZO 501 data and formulate an approach for your field study. Submit a short (1 paragraph) project abstract on Friday, 2 February summarizing your objectives.
3) On Friday,16 February submit a study plan (2 pages maximum) outlining your team's plan of work. The plan should summarize your objectives, and your methods for collecting and analyzing your bird and habitat data.
4) On Friday 30 March submit a data summary and rough draft of your final report. This draft should include summaries of your field data and preliminary analyses.
5) On Friday, 27 April, your team will make a scientific oral presentation to the class (20 min.) and turn in your final written project report. One presentation and report per team.
Guidelines for the written report and presentation:
Abstract 5 Detectability Lab Write-up 10 Methods 10 Draft Data Summary 10 Team Oral Presentation 20 Team Written Report 20 75 Abstract (out of 5 points)
Detectability Lab Write-up (out of 10 points)
Summarize your data and think about the factors affecting detection probability on the visual and auditory point counts. Bring copies of your summarized data to share with members of your group in lab next week. We will spend more time in lab next week discussing sampling methods and detection probability. Write up a 1-2 page synopsis of your findings to turn in the following week (Friday 2 March).
Each write up should include:
1. A summary of your results.
2. A comparison of your results to the true results, as well as to other members of your group.
3. A discussion of the factors that affected your ability to detect "birds" on auditory and visual counts.
4. You thoughts about other factors that may affect detection probabilities on real point counts.Methods (out of 10 points)
- Describe when and where study will be conducted (3)
- Describe sampling methods and sample sizes to be used in study (5)
- Describe statistical methods and analyses that will be used (2)
Data Summary (out of 10 points)
- This should include all data collected for your project in an organized format (e.g. Excel or Access), paper and electronic copies (7)
- Provide summary statistics for data (e.g. # birds seen per point, total number of detections per person, # trees per plot) (3)
Team Oral Presentation (out of 20 points)
- Presentation style (format, font, color choices) (2)
- Introduction (4)
- Methods (4)
- Results (4)
- Discussions (4)
- Answering questions (2)
Team Written Report - Summary of report; 3-5 pages, emphasis on methods and results sections so that future teams can replicate or compare studies. (out of 20 points)
- Introduction (1-2 paragraphs) (3)
- Methods - detailed (1-2 pages)
- (6) Results - detailed (1-2 pages)
- (6) Discussion - concise (1-2 paragraphs)
- (3) References (2)
Resources at your disposal
1) Dr. Quay has expressed his willingness to provide advise and assistance. If asked politely, he might even be talked into going out to visit study plots. Dr. Quay will meet with the class early in the semester.
2) The Raleigh Christmas Bird Count data, collected since 1916, are available in a spread sheet format for analysis and comparison to your field data.
3) We will be available to meet with team members during the semester to provide assistance with field identification and suggestions on objectives and methods of data collection and analysis.
4) Copies of Dr. Quay's thesis and study plot maps, and copies of the team reports from 1997, 1999 are on reserve in the library. Presentations from 2001 teams are also available; Team 1, Team 2, Team 3, Team 4. The 2003 and 2005 presentations (team 2, team 3, and team 4) are also available.
5) Copies of bird monitoring techniques and evaluations are available online and in the library reserve:
6) Miscellaneous documents:
The team assignments are:
Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Team 4 Nathan Tarr Cindy Carr Liz Shirley Kelsey Obernuefemann Laurina McDade Sigmon José Roques Adam Hicks James Wilson Lexie Taylor Brian Lee Beth Folta Heather Campbell Katie Gensel Kellett Babb Liani Zabala Oliver Connor
