ENVC 407 - Forest Ecology

Credits: 5
Variable Credit Course: No

Lecture Hours: 44
Lab Hours: 22
Worksite/Clinical Hours: 0
Other Hours (LIA/Internships): 0

Course Description: Topics include forest ecology concepts as they relate to human management of forest resources, including forest roles in biogeochemical cycling, fire ecology, forest succession, and more. Field trips and forest data collection are major components. Use forest measurement data to answer forest management questions.

Prerequisite: Admission to BASEC or Department Chair permission.
Meets FQE Requirement: No
Integrative Experience Requirement: No

Student Learning Outcomes

Apply basic principles of forest ecology, including biotic and abiotic ecosystem variables, to forest management questions.
Apply basic principles of tree physiology to forest management questions.
Describe the role of forests in biogeochemical cycling.
Describe the role of fire in natural forest ecology and forest management.
Explain forest succession patterns and how forest successional mosaics alter landscape-scale ecological processes.
Quantify aspects of forest ecology and use forest measurements to answer management questions.

Course Contents

Development of forestry and forest ecology.
Ecology and the ecosystem concept of forests.
Biogeochemistry: Nutrient cycling, and transfer and storage of energy.
Genetic aspects of ecosystems.
The physical area: Solar radiation, temperature and wind.
Forest soils and water.
Fire ecology.
Community ecology.
Forest succession.
Sustainable management of forest ecosystems.
Valuation of ecosystem services provided by Forested ecosystems.

Instructional Units: 5.5