Mammology Research Project: Fall 2002
My mammology course was great because it gave me first-hand experience in observing, studying, and handling mammals. We set and checked live traps and recorded demographic and ecological data on all mammals that were caught. We were required to keep a field notebook, which was a new experience for me. It taught me how to take proper field notes, and by recording all observations and conditions for prosperity, it demonstrated that field notes can be of considerable value for taxonomy, ecology, behavior, and natural history of the area. Proper field notes are not only useful to the scientist who records them, but also to any others who may later use them for their own purposes.
Besides learning the proper way to conduct a habitat analysis, the experience was just fun for me. Hiking around the woods of Mountain Lake was great, and I learned a lot about identifying local plants and trees, as well as the wildlife we were trapping. Below are just some sample pages from my field notebook.
Sample Habitat Measurements Page
Sample Habitat Data Analysis Page
