Chowan University’s Department of Biology Provides Immersive Field Experience for Students
Chowan University’s Department of Biology continues to offer its highly popular field ecology class on the northern Outer Banks. Since 2015, this immersive course has provided students with invaluable hands-on experience in taxonomic identification, data collection techniques, and participation in ongoing research and monitoring projects. This summer, students had the opportunity to contribute to various studies, including the breeding biology of prothonotary warblers, documenting biodiversity in maritime forest ponds, and monitoring changes in submerged aquatic vegetation communities.
Under the guidance of Dr. James “Bo” Dame, Professor of Biology & Physical Science, and Dr. Heather McGuire, Chair & Distinguished Professor of Biology, the semester-long course culminates in a week along the Outer Banks filled with exciting field activities. While on the Outer Banks students live and work out of the historic Pine Island hunting lodge, which allows for exploration of diverse coastal habitats at Audubon’s Pine Island Sanctuary, Currituck Banks National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve, Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges, and along Albemarle Sound in Bertie County.
Students acquire a variety of skills that include collecting water quality and meteorological data; identifying coastal vegetation, plankton, macro-invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds and small mammals; using fish/turtle traps, cast nets, and seines; conducting frog/toad calling surveys, snorkel surveys, and surveys using wildlife cameras. These activities provide a comprehensive understanding of coastal ecosystems and the diverse species that inhabit them.
Students also collect valuable data that contributes to the understanding of unique coastal habitats and the species that rely on them. They learn avian field biology techniques including how to check prothonotary warbler nest boxes and evaluate nestlings and adults, and they learn to sample, identify, and quantify different species of submerged aquatic vegetation. These practical experiences, which contribute to ongoing research and monitoring efforts, enhance each student’s scientific knowledge, deepen their understanding of vital ecosystems, and prepare them for future research endeavors.
Dr. Dame expressed his gratitude to the organizations that make this immersive field experience possible. “Thanks to our friends with Audubon North Carolina’s Pine Island Sanctuary, the North Carolina Coastal Reserve (Kitty Hawk Woods and Currituck Banks NERR), Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges, and Bertie County’s Tall Glass of Water Project (TGOW) for helping us provide this opportunity to our students,” he said.
Drs. Dame and McGuire also extended a deep thanks to Skadi Kylander who assists in teaching the course. Skadi is a 2022 Chowan Biology alum, and is currently a graduate student at East Carolina University. “Having Skadi involved with the course is a real benefit to our students. Not only are they able to learn from another expert in the field, but they also get to interact with a recent Chowan graduate and learn about applying to and attending graduate school and conducting research. It provides them an opportunity to obtain a firsthand perspective.”
The field ecology class at Chowan University continues to be a transformative experience for students, allowing them to apply their classroom knowledge in real-world settings. Through these immersive field experiences, students develop critical skills, foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world, and learn to work together under challenging conditions.
For more information on the experience, contact Dr. James “Bo” Dame, Professor of Biology & Physical Science at DameJ@chowan.edu.
To learn more about the university and the program, visit chowan.edu/biology.
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