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Professor:
Dr. Tom Gower, Department of Forest Ecology and Management,
A127 Russell Labs, 262-0532 (office), 262-6369 (lab),
email: stgower@wisc.edu
Lecture: T &TH 1:00 - 2:15,
office hours are 09:00-11:00 T & TH, or appointment
Exam Schedule:
October 4, 2007 class period
November 13, 2007, class period
December 13, 2007 UW exam period
Course Credits and Grading:
Lecture Only:
3 credits (3 exams @ 100 points each for a total of 300
points).
Lecture + Lab:
4 credits (3 exams @ 100 points each and five labs @20 points for a total of 400 points).
All students must make a presentation during the
five minute "break" in lecture
Exams
must be taken at the scheduled time. Arrangements for a make-up
exam must be made at least one week before the exam date.
| 92 < | A | |
| 88 < | AB | ≤ 92 |
| 82 < | B | ≤ 88 |
| 78 < | BC | ≤ 82 |
| 72 < | C | ≤ 78 |
| 68 < | CD | ≤ 72 |
| 62 < | D | ≤ 68 |
| | F | ≤ 62 |
Text: No
text required. Readings will be available on line, or available for
purchase from Dr. Gower.
Supplemental Textbooks:
Applications
of Physiological Ecology to Forest Management. 1997. J.J. Landsberg
and S.T. Gower, Academic Press, San Diego, CA. ISBN 0-12-435955-8
Terrestrial
Ecosystems. 1991. John D. Aber and Jerry M. Melillo, Saunders College
Publishing, Philadelphia, PA. ISBN 0-03-047443-4
Course
Objectives:
(1)
introduce the major abiotic and biotic factors that influence forest
ecosystem composition, structure, and function
(2)
describe important processes that influence the structure and
function of forest ecosystems
(3)
apply basic ecosystem concepts to understand the influence of
anthropogenic (including forest management) and natural disturbances
on forest ecosystem structure and function
(4)
examine the role of forests in global ecology
FOREST ECOSYSTEM
ECOLOGY SYLLABUS
| Date |
Lecture # |
Topic |
|
Part I. Importance of Abiotic and Biotic Factors on Forest Ecosystems
|
| Sept 04 | 00. |
Introduction to forest ecosystem ecology |
| Sept 06 | 01. |
The biosphere and forest ecosystems of the world |
| Sept 11 | 02. | Tree structure and function |
| Sept 13 | 03. | Solar radiation |
| Sept 18 | 04. | Temperature |
| Sept 20 | 05. | Hydrologic cycle |
| Sept 25 | 06. |
Physical and hydrologic properties of soils |
| Sept 27 | 07. | Chemical properties of forest soils |
| Oct 02 | | Review/Catch-up |
| Oct 04 | | Exam #1 (33% of final grade |
|
Part II. Structure and Function of Forest Ecosystems
|
| Oct 09 | 08. |
Nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems |
| Oct 11 | 09. |
Nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems (continued) |
| Oct 16 | 10. | Decomposition |
| Oct 18 | 11. | Forest biomass |
| Oct 23 | 12. | Forest productivity |
| Oct 25 | 13. |
Site quality and forest land classification |
| Oct 30 | 14. | Competition and survival |
| Nov 01 | 15. | Succession: concepts and theory |
| Nov 06 | 16. |
Succession and ecosystem structure and function |
| Nov 08 | | Catch-up and review |
| Nov 13 | | Exam #2 (33% of final grade) |
|
Part III. Management and Sustainability of Terrestrial Ecosystems
|
| Nov 15 | 17. |
Effects of timber harvesting on site productivity |
| Nov 20 | 18. |
No Class |
| Nov 22 | 19. |
No Class |
| Nov 27 | 20. |
Role of fire in forest management |
| Nov 29 | 21. |
Biodiversity: Does it matter? |
| Dec 04 | 22. |
CLimate change: evidence and causes |
| Dec 06 | 23. |
Climate change: consequence & opportunities |
| Dec 11 | 24. |
Sustainability |
| Dec 13 | |
Final Exam 12:25 pm (room to be announced) |
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