Universidad de Jaén

Theme 1. Experimental Design in Field Biology

• Why is it necessary to concern about experimental design?
• Start with a well-defined hypothesis
• Experimental manipulation versus natural variation
• Variation between individuals and replication
• Randomization
• How many replicas are necessary?
• Experimental design examples
• Types of data, observations and variables

Theme 2. Sampling methods

• Planning a sampling: initial considerations
• Types of abundance estimates.
• Definition of the habitat unit
• Sampling methods
• How to determine the appropriate number of samples?
• Types of vegetation and sessile organisms sampling
• Methods of capture and recapture.
• Distance methods for mobile organisms

Theme 3. Instrumentation for sampling and experimentation in the field and in mesocosms

• What is a mesocosm?
• Inaccuracy and imprecision
• How to reduce inaccuracy and imprecision
• Continous and puctual data recording of environmental factors
• Observation of organisms
• Capture of individuals or samples
• Measurement of individuals or samples

Theme 4 . Laboratory techniques applied to the study of plants, animals and ecosystems

• Treatment and preparation of samples
• Conservation of samples: collections.
• Maintenance of live specimens under controlled conditions.
• Specific instruments.

Theme 5 . Non-georeferenced data: Types, presentation and interpretation of information

• Listings, tables and data matrices
• Graphic representation
• Abundances
• Relationships graphics
• Causal relationships vs. correlational ones, statistical significance vs. biological relevance.

Theme 6. Environmental cartography and remote sensing

• Topographic map as a source of information in Biology.
• Sources of thematic cartography.
  • Atlas
  • Vegetation mapping
  • Uses of the territory
  • Edaphic maps
  • Climate maps
• Parameters of biological interest in remote sensing.
  • Types of vegetation
  • Covers and biomass
  • Vegetation stress
  • Types of rock

Theme 7 . Introduction to geographic information systems (GIS)

• Components of the GIS
• The GIS as sources of information.
• The GIS as methods of analysis and modelling.

PRACTICAL CONTENTS

Below the practical contents which will be developed in one or more laboratory,  field and computer sessions, are shown:

• Factorial experimental designs
• Sample size and basic types of distribution of organisms
• Capture-recapture methods
• Conservation and maintenance of organisms and samples
• Sampling techniques and data record in Aquatic Ecology
• Bioindicators of environmental quality
• Sampling techniques and vegetation analysis
• Geographic Information Systems

To support both master classes and practices, different teaching resources based on new information and communication technologies (ICT) are used. To do so, a virtual space has been created in the ILIAS Platform for Virtual Teaching of the University of Jaén called " Metodología y Experimentación en el Medio Natural ". In this platform you can find the master classes presentations, practices scripts, required reports to the students,  links to web of interest, discussion forums, events, self-evaluation tests, incidents or last minute information, etc.

During the lectures the student will learn to make a good experimental design, as well as to interpret the statistical power of their results (CG5 competence). Likewise,  the student will become aware of the professional deontology of the graduate in Biology and will acquire both social and environmental ethical values (competences CT6, CT9 and CT10).

The subject is eminently practical and uses active methodologies where the participation and involvement of the student is very remarkable. The knowledge acquired during the field, laboratory and computer practices will be revealed in individual exercises and objective tests as well as in collaborative works carried out in learners small teams. In this way the student will not only "learn to learn" but also learn to work as a team. Consequently, and by means of teamwork, he/she will acquire the skills of CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4, CT5, CT6, CT7, CT8, CT9 and CT10.

The practical sessions respond to the need to give a practical-applied aspect to the knowledge acquired by the student in the theoretical sessions.  Practical and theoretical contents  will be developed in parallel, as far as possible. It is intended to develop procedural and instrumental abilities to: i) identify and evaluate the components of the ecosystems, both aquatic and terrestrial, ii) demonstrate the adquired knowledge and understanding of concepts and analysis techniques, and iii) interpret data derived from observations and analysis, regarding  its significance and relation to the appropriate hypotheses. Due to these field, laboratory and computer practices, the student will acquire the rest of the competences (CG4, CG5 and CG7).

The exposure of ideas, techniques and analysis of results, always addressed to the field of consulting, is a teaching technique applicable in this subject. The following abilities will be worked: i) Acquisition of skills for the presentation of scientific material and arguments to inform to the audience, ii) Generation of ideas and argumentation, iii) Acquisition of environmental sensitivity, and iv) Acquisition of interpersonal tools which improve the ability to interact with other colleagues.

During the tutorials the student will be able to consolidate all the acquired competences but especially the CT1, CT3 and CT6.

Students with special educational needs should contact the Student Attention Service (Servicio de Atención y Ayudas al Estudiante) in order to receive the appropriate academic support

The theoretical contents will be evaluated by means of an objective test (50%). The practical contents will be evaluated with collaborative works (35%) and also by means of exercises or objective tests of individual character (15%).

To pass the subject it is necessary to success both the theoretical and practical contents. 

General competences CG-3, CG-4, CG-5 and CG-7, as well as the transversal competences CT1-CT10 are evaluated. Regarding specific competences, in this subject we evaluate CE-9.