- EnviSci 214: Ecosystems, biodiversity, and global change
Spring semester
Conservation science is concerned with phenomena that affect the maintenance, loss, and restoration of Earth's animals, plants and ecosystems while balancing the needs of people. Using principles from ecology, population genetics, economics, political science, and other natural and social sciences, this course will examine the global changes causing widespread species extinctions via large-scale shifts in climate, habitat destruction and fragmentation, ocean acidification, overexploitation, and invasive species. We will focus on fundamental concepts in ecology that inform various strategies to conserve ecosystems and biodiversity.
- NRC 212: Forest tree and shrub identification
Fall semester
Field and lab based instruction in plant identification and forest ecology of New England. Students will learn botanical terminology, Latin nomenclature, and phylogenetic relationships among morphologically similar plants, particularly of important trees and shrubs in our landscape. Field trips to state and University forests/wildlife management areas to learn to recognize plants where they grow naturally. Includes ability to recognize over 100 native plants as well as key invasive species of concern. Familiarity with dichotomous keying will allow students to identify plants of any type around the world. Fills the foundational requirement for species identification in the major and prepares students for a variety of entry-level field technician and vegetation science positions.
- NRC 597 PE: Applied Plant Ecology & Conservation
Spring Semester
Plants are the major determinants of habitat structure for wildlife, and are the primary producers upon which all other species depend. This course will provide students with foundational concepts of applied plant ecology, with a focus on the effects of invasive species and climate change on the functional roles of plants in ecosystems. Through a close reading of relevant primary literature and discussions of current research, students will explore methods used to quantify relationships between plants and the abiotic and biotic environment. We will focus on applications of plant ecology in the practice of biological conservation. There will be at least one field excursion. Assignments include data analysis, scientific writing/presentation, and discussion of primary literature and current research.