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Location: Rocky Time: Course Description: Experience the unique courtship rituals of the Rocky Mountain Elk while learning about their ecology on this full day class designed for those interested in an in-depth look at a Course Level: II Short-distance walks through the day on primarily level terrain Brief Instructor Biography (additional information available at www.rmna.org): Dr. Cundiff has been a professor of Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology at CU Boulder for many decades. On numerous occasions he has taught summer graduate field courses in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area of Colorado, emphasizing the ecology of elk. He has organized and guided many hundreds of outdoor adventurers/photographers on week-long wilderness area excursions, viewing and studying hundreds and - in a few instances - over a thousand elk in their natural wild habitat. He has participated in elk classification studies with the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Dozens of his elk photographs have been published. His wife refers to him as an “elkaholic.” Expectations: Professional conduct will be expected from participants at all times. Respect for individual ideas will be observed. Except during course breaks, cellular phones, pagers, and personal entertainment devices are strictly prohibited in the classroom and during field sessions. Car-pooling: Rocky Mountain Field Seminars courses utilize car-pooling to limit vehicles traveling into the Park. Car-pooling makes it easier to keep the group together, reduces transit time, and allows courses greater access because fewer parking spaces are required at destinations. In addition, it provides an opportunity for participants to discuss course material in small groups during transit. Typically, a few participants from each course volunteer the use of their vehicles for car-pooling to course locations. tentative Schedule: Elk / Cervid Classification: Why “Wapiti” is useful. Historical Background: From Elk / Antler Cycle -- Photoperiod control Casting antlers Growth (“in velvet”) Shedding velvet BREAK - 10 minutes Antler growth - Influencing factors: Genetics Hormones Trauma / Health Diet / Soil Nutrients Age When all components are there: large antlers Rutting Season - Bulls advertise their dominance: Visually Audibly Aromatically Posturing of Bulls: Herding posture Mating posture Dominant / Aggressive bulls most adaptive BREAK - 10 minutes Liabilities of Dominance: Stress Calving Season / Summer brood herds Bull Bunches Migrations / Molting Food Types: Energy efficiency BREAK - 10 minutes Mortality: Natural causes; Human related causes Elk Signs: The evidences of elk Conclusion BREAK - 5 minutes Video: “Ghost of the 29 minutes edited version. Filmed mostly in the FTWA of CO. Credits: North American Elk: Ecology & Management, 2002. Toweill & Thomas; Elk Country, 1991. Geist & Francis; CDOW & RMEF
What to Bring:
Remember to Bring the 10 Essentials: · Raingear · Map and compass · Flashlight or headlamp · Sunglasses and sunscreen · Candles · Matches or other fire starter · Pocketknife · First-aid kit · Extra layers of clothing · Sack lunch, snacks, water Note: Rocky Mountain Field Seminars recommends that participants for all courses dress in layers and wear comfortable, sturdy hiking boots/shoes. Participants should be prepared for sudden changes in temperature and weather conditions. Teacher Recertification Credit: Most seminars are eligible for teacher recertification credit through the Centennial Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES). The fee is $25.00 per seminar (.5 unit) or $25.00 per series of threaded seminars (1.0 - 3.0 units). A list of threaded seminars can be found online at www.rmna.org. Participants must enroll in all seminars of a threaded series in order to qualify for the $25.00 multi-unit fee. Please be prepared to pay for this credit with a check, made payable to BOCES, on the first day of a seminar or on the final day of a threaded series of seminars. |