ENVR 163: Terrestrial Ecology and Biology builds upon the concepts from ENVR 162 with further studies of local forest ecosystems. Students will identify key forest structural components and study the role that disturbance (such as fire), environmental gradients, and competition play in defining a species� niche. Participants will also examine the role of primary and secondary growth, nutrient uptake, reproduction, and survival mechanisms for plants. Winter plant identification, ecosystem form and function, and plant adaptations to timberline will also be examined. A practical field based assignment will form a major portion of the term assessment. This project includes collecting the data in the field, entering and analysing the data in the computer lab, and presenting the data in a written scientific report.
Prerequisites: ENVR 162 ENVR 164
Accessibility Services Notice
standard statementCourse Details| Total number of weeks | 15 |
|---|
| Total Credits | |
|---|
| Total Hours | 45 |
|---|
Typical hours per week breakdown| Lecture | 3 |
|---|
| Lab (lab, field, computer) | 3 |
|---|
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:
- stratify landscapes into ecological units;
- adopt a professional approach to classroom and fieldwork.
- distinguish amongst natural disturbance types;
- describe forest structure and succession as a function of stand history and ecology in the dominant forest types of BC;
- identify the common southern interior shrubs species in winter;
- describe physiological plant processes and how these relate to a species’ performance in the ecosystem;
- apply standard methods for measuring forest ecosystems;
- describe the impact of fire and its role in forested ecosystems;
- analyze a data set using descriptive statistics;
- communicate scientific findings in a technical report; and
Grading Table
Academic and Career
See the Academic Calendar for General Information including how to withdraw from course(s) and other regulations.
Disclaimer
standard statement