| 1. NATH1110E - Biology for Naturalists (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Explore basic biological principles and theories with hands-on examples drawn from the natural world around us. Understand the classification and adaptations of organisms as we explore living things. Outdoor activities and field trips will help you develop the naturalist's way of seeing. This course is recommended background for other courses ... |
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| 2. NATH1115E - Bird Life (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Study the life histories and ecology of resident and migrant birds of the Central Atlantic region. Emphasis is on birding techniques, use of field guides, introduction to birdsong and identification of our area's birds. Bird forms and adaptations, habitats, classification, plumage, migration, and conservation are also covered. The course features ... |
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| 3. NATH1118E - Introduction to Ornithology (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Learn about birds and their special characteristics. Study their external and internal anatomy, feather structure, plumage, special adaptations, flight, migration, courtship, mating, nesting, eggs, incubation, care of the young, habitats, ecology, behavior, conservation, evolution, classification, distribution, worldwide birds and bird-related activities. ... |
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| 4. NATH1125E - Geology (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| We may not have the Rockies in our back yard, but we have the roots of mountains that were as high as the Alps. Although local earthquakes are rare now, this area broke in two twice and ocean flowed in. Central Atlantic geology tells a story as fascinating as any place on the planet. Course lectures introduce the landscapes, subsurface structures and ... |
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| 5. NATH1130E - Insect Life (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Learn to identify insects and discover their roles in the balance of nature. Study their histories, the ecologies of important insect forms, the necessity of insects in biotic communities and principal insect families of the Central Atlantic region. Field Trip Dates: July 16, August 6, and August 27, 2011. ... This course is part of the Certificate ... |
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| 6. NATH1135E - Spring Flower Identification (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Learn to recognize common spring wildflowers. Increase your enjoyment of the season by learning about flower identification, the relationships of plants and how they are classified. Gain an appreciation for the rich flora of the Central Atlantic region through study of the principal spring-blooming plant families in the area. Field trips emphasize ... |
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| 7. NATH1140E - Weather and Climate (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Explore a wide range of weather phenomena. Learn about weather observation, clouds and cloud formation, weather map analysis and forecasting, weather satellite imagery and the weather's role in global and local ecological systems and the environment. Note: A fee of $20 for the Chesapeake Bay boat trip will be collected in class. Field Trip Dates: ... |
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| 8. NATH1145E - Fall Woody Plant Identification (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Autumn's glory is created by colorful trees and shrubs, so fall is the ideal time to study techniques of woody plant field identification. Participants study the major woody plant families and species found in the Central Atlantic's forest communities. Field trips feature the use of recognition characteristics and botanical keys to identify ... |
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| 9. NATH1146E - Winter Woody Plant Identification (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Winter unmasks nature, revealing our local woody plants in their most skeletal form. Students will learn to identify trees and shrubs by studying the bare bones of plants ' branching structure, bark, buds and leaf scars. Classroom lessons and three field trips will help students develop observational skills such as persistent and fallen fruits ... |
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| 10. NATH1149E - Summer Wildflower Identification (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| From milkweeds and morning glories to orchids and asters, summer presents a diverse array of wildflowers for study of plant family characteristics and ways to identify different species. Field trips to two scenic locations for summer wildflowers provide an opportunity for practice in the use of identification guides. Previous Spring Flower Identification ... |
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| 11. NATH1151E - Animal Behavior (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Examine animals' behavior in their natural environments. Learn about the physiological bases of animal behavior, differential capacities, experience and inheritance, social behavior and organization, territoriality, orientation and migration, communication, reproduction and the evolution of behavior. Examples are drawn from pets and local wild ... |
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| 12. NATH1155E - Birds of Prey (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Experience the wonder of the fall raptor migration and learn to identify raptors in flight. This course will concentrate on species typically found in eastern North America but will also cover additional selected species. Study habitat requirements of birds of prey and their relationships to other species. This course is for those who want to expand ... |
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| 13. NATH1160E - Introduction to Ecology (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| A fundamental understanding of ecology and the physical and biological principles on which ecosystems depend is essential for any naturalist. Learn to interpret the patterns and processes of nature by studying energy flow, food webs, biogeochemical cycles, population dynamics, communities, behavioral and evolutionary ecology, biodiversity, biomes and ... |
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| 14. NATH1165E - Owls (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Winter is an excellent time to study owls: early sunsets and the absence of leaves on the trees make it convenient to locate these fascinating birds in the field. Identify and learn the ecology of common eastern owls as well as their migratory and nesting habits and position in the food chain. Field Trips: February 5 and February 12 afternoons. ... |
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| 15. NATH1167E - Birds of North America (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Study the bird families found in all parts of North America north of Mexico. Learn about North American fossil birds; the origins of our bird families; and the conservation of North American birds. The course will cover classifications, species, distribution patterns, and migration. Preserved bird specimens will be on display for students' examination. ... |
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| 16. NATH1175E - The Living Soil (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Knowledge of soils is basic to understanding plant communities and ecosystems. Examine the nature of soils and their influence on environment. Learn the structure, properties and the classification of soils and the significance of these factors to plant growth and other uses. Discover life in the soil, and study the soil groups and natural land resource ... |
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| 17. NATH1187E - Spring Birding (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Bird migration is one of nature's most mysterious and impressive spectacles. Learn more about this annual phenomenon through a combination of class and field study. Topics covered include bird migration patterns, navigation techniques, important staging areas and migration monitoring. Special emphasis is placed on conservation issues that impact ... |
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| 18. NATH1195E - Birds of the World (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Learn about the avifauna of each continent or region. Review the factors that contribute to the climate, geography and topography of each continent or region and how they affect the distribution of birds. Study the diversity of families, the number of species, the endemic and/or unique species of each continent and the conservation efforts being taken ... |
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| 19. NATH2100E - Night Sky for Naturalists (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Astronomy is the 'Big Picture of Natural History.' Explore the celestial realm by learning the star patterns (constellations) and the nature of stars, galaxies, planets and our moon. Learn how to use your unaided eye, binoculars, spotting scope or small telescope to explore the night sky. On class nights with a clear sky, we will head outside ... |
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| 20. NATH2175E - Butterflies and Their Conservation (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Small-scale conservation projects can do much to help butterflies, whose populations are increasingly impacted by urbanization and other factors. Participants will learn to identify butterflies of the region and study the principles of butterfly conservation. They will work on plans for their own conservation projects, based on an expanded understanding ... |
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| 21. NATH2201E - Evolution (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Explore the genetic basis and investigate mechanisms of evolution, including founder effects, genetic drift, speciation, altruistic behavior, sexual selection, extinction and environmental factors. Review the intellectual background of Darwin's theories from Aristotle to Wallace and survey the literature of evolution from Darwin and Huxley to ... |
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| 22. NATH2206E - Estuarine Ecosystems (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Discover the dynamic nature of the estuarine environment through study of the interaction between basic physical, chemical and biological processes in the Chesapeake Bay. Explore biological and geochemical cycles and discuss the interaction between nutrients and overall productivity affecting the health of the Bay. Examine the effects of pollution ... |
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| 23. NATH2207E - Freshwater Ecosystems (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Learn about lakes, rivers and wetlands. Study the physical characteristics of freshwater habitats and how they shape aquatic communities. Visit different freshwater ecosystems and become familiar with the organisms that inhabit them. Discussions will focus on pollution and other human impacts to aquatic systems. Field Trip Dates: April 30, May 7, and ... |
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| 24. NATH2211E - Wetland Ecosystems (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| The National Capital area harbors a rich variety of wetlands, ranging from bogs to tidal marshes. Become familiar with the landscape and ecological processes that form wetlands and how to identify the plants and animals commonly found in wetlands. Gain an understanding of wetland conservation, including wetland restoration and policy. Field Trip Dates: ... |
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| 25. NATH2215E - Eastern Forest Ecosystems (Classroom-Evening/Weekend) |
| Explore the interconnectedness between deciduous and coniferous forest biomes of the mid-Atlantic region. Using field studies to augment in-class sessions, you delve into the study of mid-Atlantic forest ecosystems in order to chart this region's environmental uniqueness on a national scale. Forest ecosystem topics include: oak-hickory, oak-chestnut ... |
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