TECHNOLOGY FELLOWS PROGRAM

APPLICATION

Please return this completed form, along with your attached proposal, to:

Technology Fellows Program
Associated Colleges of the South Technology Center
Southwestern University Box 7385
Georgetown, TX 78626

Applicant Name: _____Micahel E. Dorcas___________________________________

Project Title: Techno-herpetology: Advanced Data Collection Techniques for Students Involved in Long-term Ecological Studies

Project proposed for (select one):

   _____Fall, 2000 _____Spring, 2001 __X__Summer, 2001

Project type:

    __X__Project to be completed at Home Campus (stipend only)
    _____Residency at ACS Technology Center (Southwestern University) (stipend plus housing and limited meal plan)
    Proposed length of residency (and desired dates, if known) ________________________________

ACS Institution: ____Davidson College______________________________________

Department: ______Biology_______________________________________________

Mailing Address:

Department of Biology

P.O. Box 1719

Davidson College

Davidson, NC 28036

__________________________________________________________

E-Mail: _____________midorcas@davidson.edu________________________

Approval of Chief Academic Officer:_____________________________________________

Printed Name of Chief Academic Officer:____________Dr. Clark Ross________

  (Please print this form and return it via regular mail.)

TECHNO-HERPETOLOGY:

ADVANCED DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES FOR STUDENTS

INVOLVED IN LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL STUDIES

Michael E. Dorcas

Davidson College

Introduction

As more and more emphasis is placed on the value of involving undergraduate students in high-quality research, our needs for effective and efficient data collection methods have increased. Because of the increased importance of conservation biology, the necessity of long-term ecological studies has come to the forefront of biology. Herpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles, is a field that offers many opportunities for meaningful student involvement in long-term studies. Long-term studies of amphibians and reptiles are vital to their conservation because of their clandestine nature and because of the fluctuating nature of many amphibian and reptile populations. Additionally, many amphibian and reptile species are ideally suited for long-term studies because they can be easily marked and repeatedly captured year after year. At Davidson College, we have recently begun an Integrative Herpetology Program based on long-term studies of amphibians and reptiles at numerous nearby field locations. Several mark-recapture studies of aquatic and terrestrial turtle populations are underway and trapping arrays for salamanders, frogs, lizards, and small, nonvenomous snakes are run by students on a regular basis. Our Herpetology Program has involved students from a variety of disciplines, including Molecular Biology, Animal Physiology, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Herpetological Investigations, Vertebrate Field Zoology, and Mathematic Modeling. Additionally, we are in the process of developing courses in Geographical Information Systems and Environmental Monitoring within the Integrative Herpetology Program at Davidson College.

Despite the success of our Integrative Herpetology Program, undergraduates can often be involved in research for only short periods of time (semester or at the most, one year). Undergraduates involved in long-term analyses of amphibian and reptile populations must therefore often use data collected by former students in preceding years combined with the data they collect. Standardization and consistency of data collection over time is therefore imperative but difficult due the number of students collecting data. Any procedures that increase data collection accuracy and consistency are extremely valuable.

To increase the consistency and accuracy of data collection for student-based long-term projects in our Integrative Herpetology Program, I propose to develop two new advanced technological data collection methods. First, I will develop procedures that will enable students to use handheld computer technology rather than traditional paper datasheets to collect data in the field. Second, I will develop a web-based, amphibian and reptile observation report that can be filled out by students from remote locations.

Methods

To develop handheld computer technology to be used in the field for data collection, I will utilize the software Pendragon Forms (ver. 3.1, Pendragon Software Corp., Libertyville, IL). Pendragon Forms allows the generation of specialized forms on a desktop computer that can be downloaded to any handheld computer running the Palm operating system (Palm Pilots, Visors, etc.). The advantage of using specialized forms are several-fold. First, a small handheld computer is much easier to carry in the field than a large clipboard, paper, and pen. Second, the specialized forms can be set up in such a way so that students can be constrained to enter data in certain ways and thus prevent common mistakes. For example, if a student enters a particular genus of reptile, the species field would be limited to only those species found within that genus. Third, because the data can then be transferred into a MS Access database via HotSync technology, there are fewer chances for errors due to manual transcription of datasheets into the computer. Fourth, data can be transferred into the appropriate database with the push of one button, thus allowing immediate examination and evaluation of the data and freeing students time for data analysis and interpretation. Finally, the opportunity to use handheld technology for data collection in the field will provide students with valuable knowledge of advanced data collection techniques. I expect that once the protocols and forms are developed, a student will be able to learn the system and begin utilizing it for data collection within one hour.

To develop a web-based, amphibian and reptile observation report, I will use Java scripts to develop forms on the WWW that will allow students to enter reptile and amphibian observations via any web browser. Like the handheld procedures, constraints will be implemented that will restrict data entry to increase data accuracy. One vital aspect of our data collection is exact animal location. We typically record global positioning system (GPS) coordinates (UTM's) for each observation using a handheld GPS system. To allow students to enter the GPS coordinates from the web without a GPS, we will provide a map or series of maps of the Davidson Area on the WWW with coordinates on the them. Students will then just double click on the exact spot on the map to automatically enter the UTM's into the database. Like the handheld computer data collection system, this system will eliminate errors of data transcription and increase the effectiveness of student data collection.

How will this approach enhance teaching and/or student learning?

Both of these advanced data collection systems will enhance teaching and student learning by streamlining and improving data collection for our Integrative Herpetology Program. Students working in Vertebrate Field Zoology, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, and Herpetological Investigations, and Mathematical Modeling will participate in data collection and have access to data collected using both of these techniques. Essentially these technologies will allow students to get past slogging through data entry and focus more time on data analysis and interpretation. We will incorporate the Web-based Observation Report into our web page titled "The Biology and Conservation of North Carolina's Reptiles and Amphibians" (www.bio.davidson.edu/ncherp), thus making it available to numerous students on and off campus. Additionally, many natural resource managers and personnel (e.g., county level government, state parks, Nature Conservancy, etc.) will be able to use the system to report their observations.

What Technical Expertise Will Be Sought from ASC Institutions?

Fortunately, most of the expertise necessary for this project is found in Biology and othere departments at Davidson College. Colleagues at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are currently developing similar handheld computer technology and they have indicated that they will help in any way possible. Staff in our library have developed similar systems the one I propose for web-based data entry into a MS Access database and have agreed to assist me with this. All server space, computer time, supplies, palm pilots, and other equipment is already in place in the Biology Department at Davidson College.

How/When Will the Project be Integrated into the Curriculum and How Will Its Effectiveness be Assessed.

I plan to fully implement both technologies into the curriculum during the Fall of 2001. I will be teaching Amphibian and Reptile Conservation or Herpetological Investigations again at that time and will incorporate these technologies into the normal data collection my students routinely perform. Fine tuning of the forms and database management will be conducted during the Fall 2001 as students report ways to improve the technology. In the Spring of 2002, we will further test the technologies in Dr. Mark Stanback's Vertebrate Field Zoology class, who will run the drift fence and other trapping arrays.

The effectiveness of the technology will be assessed in two ways. Accuracy and completeness of data collected using the new technologies will be compared to previous techniques (clipboard and paper). Additionally, questionnaires will be completed by students whereby they will have the ability to assess the usefulness of the technology and provide suggestions for further improvement.

How Will the Results of this Project be Shared with Colleagues at Other ACS Institutions.

I will incorporate instructions for implementing both technologies into my web site (www.bio.davidson.edu/dorcas). The javascripts with instructions and the Pendragon forms will be available for download. Links from the ACS Technology Program web site will make these technologies available to all ACS members. Although I am developing these for use in our Integrative Herpetology Program, slightly modified versions could be used for a variety of data collection purposes.