As a biology major, I have taken a share of biology courses here at Swarthmore, and I have many more planned out for the future. From cellular and molecular biology, to organismal and population biology (which are covered here in Bio 1 and Bio 2, respectively), you can explore the full range of the living world here. However, one has stood out to me, as it perfectly encapsulated the field of biology I enjoy most. BIOL-036, or Ecology, was an amazing experience for me, as it combined biology and the environment to explore a key component of the natural world.
This past fall, I took Ecology with Professor Jose-Luis Machado. Over the course of the semester, we investigated the components and functions of ecosystems, from nutrient uptake and movement, to species diversity, abiotic and biotic influences, and much more. Our lectures were a mix of traditional lecture, discussion, and group activities that all allowed us to dive deeper into these topics and explore the parts that interested us. We covered some pretty incredible topics as well, such as how much of a role fungi play in ecosystems (hint: they do MUCH more than you’d think).
Like many biology courses, ecology also has a lab section. Being on a campus that sits directly beside over 200 acres of forest means we had access to a whole ecosystem to study ourselves. Over the course of the semester, we performed a study to determine the carbon influx of the Crum Woods. This was part of a much larger study that Professor Jose-Luis has been leading with his ecology classes for years here at Swarthmore, so we were contributing more data to a project that more than a decade worth of students have worked on.
We were each assigned plots for the semester in the woods, and we went out and measured all of the trees within them. We also collected soil samples and litterfall samples, and we used all of this data to determine how much carbon is cycling though the Crum Woods. Being able to not only contribute to such a large research project, but also perform research work that helps us to understand the role of forests in carbon sequestration was such an incredible experience.
Taking ecology was an amazing introduction to the wonderful world of ecosystems, and it really changed the way I see forests and other ecosystems. Now, I can think of the ways nutrients are flowing through it, the many seen and unseen organisms participating in its function, and the ways we can preserve them for years to come. Professor Jose-Luis was also incredible to work with, as he was always willing to help us with content we didn’t understand, and help us explore topics we were interested in. I think everyone who is interested in biology (or, really just everyone) should consider taking ecology. It’s certain to be a TREE-t.