Download FORESTRY 215 - FOREST ECOLOGY SYLLABUS SPRING 2017

FORESTRY 215 - FOREST ECOLOGY
SYLLABUS
SPRING 2017
Instructors:
Dr. David Buckley: 135 Plant Biotech Building, (865) 974-7978, [email protected] (Primary Instructor)
Dr. Ray Albright: (865) 974-8443, [email protected]
Dr. Stacy Clark: USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, [email protected]
Dr. Scott Schlarbaum: 106 Annex B, (865) 974-7993, [email protected]
Text:
Barnes, B.V., D.R. Zak, S.R. Denton, and S.H. Spurr. 1998. Forest Ecology, 4th Edition. Wiley & Sons, New York
Course Goals:
1) To expand on basic information regarding species adaptations and interactions presented in dendrology, and basic
physiology presented in tree biology.
2) To explore ecological interactions between plant and animal species in forest ecosystems, and the response of these
species to abiotic factors such as aspect, slope, temperature, wind, light, moisture, nutrients, and fire.
3) To explore forest properties and processes at the scales of communities, ecosystems, and landscapes.
By the end of the course, students should be able to read the lay of the land in relation to how productive and diverse
different locations are likely to be, what disturbances and other abiotic factors are likely to be important, what stages of
succession and forest development are present, and how various important plant and animal species are likely to
interact with each other and their abiotic environment. Students should also be able to recognize how species
properties, species interactions, and ecological processes at local scales contribute to properties and processes at larger
scales. In the laboratory portion of the course, it is expected that students will become more proficient in collecting,
organizing, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from real data, and in objectively comparing their results with results
and principles published previously in the text and elsewhere in the literature. Increased proficiency in communicating
results and conclusions drawn from lab exercises in writing is also expected, including the ability to organize required
sections appropriately, effectively present data in tables and graphs, and conduct searches of the literature beyond the
textbook.
Course Grade Components
Mid-term Exam
30 % of course grade
Final Exam
30 % of course grade
Lab Reports
30 % of course grade
Participation
10 % of course grade
Grade Scale
90-100%........A
85-89%..........B+
80-84%..........B
75-79%..........C+
70-74%.........C
60-69%.........D
<60%............F
*Please communicate any disabilities to the instructor by the end of the first week of classes so that any
necessary accommodations can be made.
UT Academic Issue Protocol:
“Issues related to grades or academic coursework should first be addressed with the course instructor, then the appropriate department head,
and finally the dean of the college in which the course is offered. If an appropriate solution cannot be reached through discussions with these
individuals, the Director of the Student Success Center (for undergraduate students) or the staff of the Office of Graduate Student Services (for
graduate students) can offer assistance regarding the best “next steps” for problem resolution. Issues related to academic advising should be
addressed first with the advisor, then the director of the appropriate advising center, then the dean of the appropriate college, and finally with
the Assistant Provost for Student Success.”
Lecture and Reading Schedule
FOR 215 Forest Ecology
SPRING 2017
Text: Barnes, B.V., D.R. Zak, S.R. Denton, and S.H. Spurr. 1998. Forest Ecology, 4th Edition. Wiley & Sons, New York
Date
Day
Topic
Readings in text
Jan 12
Thu
Introduction to course, Role of forest ecology in forest management
1-17
Jan 17
Jan 19
Tue
Thu
Forest environments: Effects of landform position, aspect, climate, hydrology
Soils: Physical and chemical properties, organic matter, nutrient dynamics, moisture, site index
Jan 24
Jan 26
Jan 31
Feb 2
Tue
Thu
Tue
Thu
Light: Effects of canopy profile structure and competitors
No class – KTSAF meeting
Disturbances: Types, scale, frequency, intensity
Strategies and adaptations of forest species
153-181;206-209;224233
255-278;300-306
182-205
Feb 7
Feb 9
Feb 14
Feb 16
Feb 21
Feb 23
Feb 28
Mar 2
Mar 7
Mar 9
Mar 14
Mar 16
Mar 21
Mar 23
Mar 28
Mar 30
Apr 4
Apr 6
Apr 11
Apr 13
Apr 18
Apr 20
Apr 25
Apr 27
May 4
Tue
Thu
Tue
Thu
Tue
Thu
Tue
Thu
Tue
Thu
Tue
Thu
Tue
Thu
Tue
Thu
Tue
Thu
Tue
Thu
Tue
Thu
Tue
Thu
Thu
Forest succession
Artificial regeneration and the ecology of planted tree seedlings (Dr. Clark and Dr. Schlarbaum)
Forest development
Natural regeneration: Flowering and seed production, mast years
Dispersal and seed predation
Germination, seed dormancy and germination patterns, seed banks
Seedbeds: Substrate, soil moisture, and temperatures
Mid-term Exam
Seedling growth patterns and strategies
Seedling performance: Competition, herbivory, and mycorrhizae
Spring Break – no classes
Spring Break – no classes
Fire ecology
Fire ecology (continued)
Landscape ecology
Ecosystem properties
Ecosystem processes (Dr. Albright)
Ecosystem processes (Dr. Albright)
Ecological classification
Ecological classification systems
Forests of North America and the world
Forest ecosystems in Tennessee
Invasive species impacts on Tennessee forests
Review for Final Exam
Final Exam, 8:00 - 10:00 A.M., 115 PSB
213-214;279-284;334341;409-442
65-66;122-138;284-290;
395-406
443-485
94-105
105-107; 342-348
107-115
250-253
350-352;384-387;394
290-297;352-355;414428;483-484
613-652
577-612
503-523
524-575
298-329
655-678
358-359
FORESTRY 215 - FOREST ECOLOGY
LAB SCHEDULE
SPRING 2017
Instructors: Dr. David Buckley: 135 Plant Biotech Building, (865) 974-7978, [email protected]
Dr. Stacy Clark: [email protected]
Dr. Scott Schlarbaum: 106 Annex B, (865) 974-7993, [email protected]
Date
Day
Exercise/Activity
Location
Report Due Date
Jan 12
Thu
Introduction to lab, lab reports and grading
115 PSB
NA
Jan 19
Thu
Landforms and site conditions
115 PSB
Feb 2
Jan 26
Thu
No lab – KTSAF Meeting
Feb 2
Thu
Ag Campus
Feb 9
Feb 9
Thu
TENNTIP Greenhouse
Feb 16
Feb 16
Thu
Tree architecture in relation to shade tolerance and growth
Strategies
Artificial regeneration: Seed collection, nursery practices,
grading seedlings (Dr. Schlarbaum)
Succession
High Ground Park
Feb 23
Feb 23
Thu
Seed banks in different plant communities
115 PSB
Mar 2
Mar 2
Thu
No Lab (Lecture Midterm)
Mar 9
Thu
Rescheduled Lab Day (if needed due to weather)
Mar 16
Thu
Spring Break, No Classes
Mar 23
Thu
Fire ecology
115 PSB
Mar 30
Mar 30
Thu
Edge effects
UT Arboretum
Apr 6
Apr 6
Thu
Species diversity and site quality
Cherokee Woodlot
Apr 13
Apr 13
Thu
Ecological classification
UT Arboretum
Apr 20
Apr 20
Thu
Ash regeneration in forests impacted by emerald ash borer
Cowan Park
Apr 27
Mar 23
Lab reports and report grading:
We will meet for a total of 12 lab sessions, 10 of which will be written up (individually) in the form of a typed lab report based on results.
Lab reports should be brief, but should contain the following sections:
I. TITLE PAGE WITH NAME AND DATE
II. INTRODUCTION---Why were we there (besides being there to learn something)? Why is the lab topic or subject important?
III. OBJECTIVES—What were we trying to test or find out?
IV. METHODS—What did we do (what did we measure, what measuring devices did we use, how were measurements taken)?
V. RESULTS—What were the measurement values obtained? (include means, tables, graphs, descriptions–prepare graphs in PC packages)
VI. DISCUSSION AND ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS—What can you interpret from results, what should have happened, what could have
happened?
All lab reports will be graded as follows:
20%
Overall quality (spelling, grammar, format, all required sections included).
20%
Introduction and Objectives (Understanding of the significance of what was studied---why it is important in ecosystems or to
species—What were we trying to test or find out?).
20%
Methods (organization, sufficient detail so that someone could repeat the exercise).
20%
Results (Organization, reasonable presentation, all tables and graphs requested are present and reasonably accurate).
20%
Discussion and answers to questions (Thought behind discussion, feasibility of answers and reasoning and arguments underlying
answers).
*Data collection and sharing may be a team effort, but lab reports will be an individual effort worth 30% of the course grade in total.
**Please communicate any disabilities to the instructor by the end of the first week of classes so that accommodations can be made.