Sonoma State Universities Dr. Derek Girman brought his Vertebrate Biology class to Mitsui for an overnight field trip this May. This visit was designed to expose senior undergraduate students in the class to various wildlife biology methods and career paths.
Managing Ecologist Jeff Wilcox, Research Ecologist Victoria Brunal-Byrd, and current graduate student Sydni Wong discussed their roles at Mitsui and demonstrated native wildlife sampling techniques. Students learned more about the research projects that are being conducted on site, such as Jeff’s California red-legged frogs (Rana draytonii) and foothill yellow-legged frogs (Rana boylii) long-term demographics project. As part of this project, students got to learn how to collect demographic data such as measuring the body length and weight of individual frogs, how to tag frogs with individual identification tags, and how to differentiate male and females.
Students gained hands on experience learning what it’s like to work in this field and how professionals study wildlife species. Research techniques demonstrated included conducting night surveys for frogs, setting turtle traps for mark capture release sampling, and how to use radio telemetry to track native frog movements on the landscape. We also got to take students out to observe several native special status species that live on the property including California red-legged frogs, foothill yellow-legged frogs, and western pond turtles (Actinemys spp.). Students observed these endangered species but also got to learn more about the common native species and how to differentiate them.
Observing these species can help students branch into wildlife biology careers, as many jobs in this field require professionals to be able to identify these species to ensure California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) conservation and management measures are followed.
Classes such as this can help students learn more about these fields but also figure out what sparks their interests and passion!
