British Columbia

This year's ecogeomorphology course studied the headwater lakes and river systems of the Chilko-Chilcotin River system in British Columbia, Canada. The course was focused on developing a conceptual model that tied important physical and biological processes together based on levels of importance and understanding. To compliment the model, eleven technical chapters provided details in disciplines ranging from tectonics and glaciers to biological nitrogen cycling. An interactive map identifies locations of field work activities, interesting islands, and campsites. And of course there are many field logs (Flogs) and photos to enlighten and entertain the casual viewer.

This course introduced advanced undergraduate and graduate students to multidisciplinary collaborative watershed and stream analysis through combined laboratory and field study. Students from diverse backgrounds worked in cooperative research teams to collect and analyze field data from the Skeena River watershed (British Columbia), one of the largest un-dammed rivers in North America (Dynesius and Nilsson 1994). These teams used field collected data to analyze geomorphic processes and test ecological hypotheses of biotic diversity. Specifically, students studied patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrate and salmonid diversity in multiple tributaries to the Skeena River.