The first document is from Integrative Biology, from a half-semester long project that I focused on in my first semester as a Biology major, where the effects of different water types was studied on plant growth. The second document is the final presentation from a sophomore level Introduction to Ecology and Evolution course, where the species diversity of birds was observed in Farmville, VA.

In Integrative Biology, I learned how many basic ecological needs must be met for any species to survive. As the research suggests, it is essential for all life forms to have access to nutrients and minerals. I was able to apply this concept to many other biological models through concepts learned in the lecture portion. This course did not go into great depth into ecological and evolutionary processes, as the course covered many other topics and branches of biology.

In Introduction to Ecology and Evolution, I was able to expand my knowledge of ecological processes, especially through observing species interactions at the time of feeding. I learned more advanced techniques for obtaining data from the field, such as species identification through reference books. I also learned how to accurately report the data that I concluded for this field through graphs and mathematical/statistical analyses.

As you can see in the first assignment from Integrative Biology, I did not yet learn how to apply statistical analysis to the data that I recorded. In the assignment from Introduction to Ecology and Evolution, I successfully master this topic. I am now able to communicate better in the field. However, this is not an area of biology that I am most proficient in, in terms of data collection and field/laboratory techniques. Since I have not yet taken a junior level Ecology/Evolution course, I think I still have much more to learn in this area.