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University Programs University BLOG Summer 2009 » Fall Program 2009 Prospective Students Current Students Faculty & TA's Animal Care Equipment Library Services How to Apply Tuition & Fees Awards / Financial Aid Teaching Facilities Accomodation Food Services FAQ's BMSC slide show (2.9mb) Previous courses Past seminar series ALUMNI News BMSC Ambassadors | HOME > University Programs > Summer 2009 course profiles > Amphibian Biology # Amphibian Biology 2009 “Amphibians are fascinating creatures. They represent one of the most significant events in vertebrate evolution - the transition from water to land. In addition to their evolutionary significance, we are only now beginning to appreciate their diversity and importance in ecosystem function.” David Darda (2005)
| Topics covered: Species Identification Reproduction Courtship and Mating Evolution Declines Developmental Adaptations Ecology Conservation
Dr. Barb Beasley, Instructor, writes: "Amphibian Biology 2009 was a testament to how much students can accomplish in a short period of time when they are immersed in the field and are highly motivated. We took the "immersion" aspect literally and spent hours wading, snorkeling, minnow-trapping and dip-netting in wetlands to learn about the breeding ecology of aquatic amphibians. We searched the forest floor at night to monitor the activity of terrestrial forms. The students were motivated by a number of things, including: the enjoyment of being outdoors while completing a university course, a desire to gain first-hand experience doing scientific field work, the delight of finding remarkable amphibian life forms and observing their adaptations, a genuine concern about the plight of declining amphibian populations worldwide, and unrelenting encouragement from the instructors. The local species and habitats around Bamfield are poorly studied, and students were able to contribute valuable information by observing distribution patterns, morphology, and behaviour. Highlights included: discovering toad tadpoles at a previously unknown breeding location, showing that colour patterns on frogs may be useful for individual recognition, documenting the positive relationship between body size and vent colour of breeding male newts, and preliminary investigations into the abundance of terrestrial salamanders within marine riparian areas . Overall, it was a great first run with lots of skill-building adventures, new friendships and inspiration for further exploration of our coastal amphibians." Click here for Amphibian Biology photo gallery
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