You Don’t Have to Leave Toronto to Study the Wild

Wading through a river, crouching in the undergrowth and trekking through woodlands, a group of U of T Mississauga undergraduates spent part of the summer studying ecology outdoors. But instead of travelling to Ecuador or the Galapagos Islands, they explored the diverse landscapes of the Greater Toronto Area.

The experience was part of a new course in urban ecology and evolution designed to make field research more accessible while preparing students for careers in biology and related industries.

“Our focus was to give students hands-on skills they can apply to jobs once they leave here,” says Prof. Marc Johnson, the course instructor and the Canada Research Chair for Urban Environmental Science.

During the first week of the intensive course, Johnson and 13 biology students studied conservation areas, parks, rivers and other environments to understand how urban changes to air, water and land affect ecosystems. In the second week, students designed research projects based on their findings.

Basma Alkhateeb, a biology specialist and environmental sciences major, tapped into her love of birds to examine how socioeconomics influence the diversity and abundance of urban bird species.

“I have been involved in research before, but this was my first opportunity to complete my own field research project from start to finish,” she says. “It was a great immersive experience.”