General Field Trip Information

Arboretum

Field Trip 1 to UBNA

Field Trip 2 to Carkeek Park

Field Trip 3 to Snoqualmie

Field Trip 4 (All day)

COURSE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Note the extended field trip times

NOTE: The field trips/labs are a mandatory part of this course. The journal entries on each field trip/lab are worth a substantial amoount of the course grade.

TA: Robert Tournay (tournay@uw.edu)

For more information on Prof. Sharon Doty, see her laboratory website:

http://depts.washington.edu/envaplabl

 

 

ESRM201 Spring 2019- Prof. Sharon Doty

(website- last revised 2/15/19)

Spring 2019: Lectures on Tuesdays 1:30-2:50

Lab Sections on Wednesdays or Thursdays
Lab Section AA on Wed. 1:30-4:20 in WFS 107
Lab Section AB on Thurs. 1:30-4:20 in WFS 107

Course Introduction: This course will introduce you to the principles of ecology across an urban to wild land gradient.  Students will be exposed in the classroom, labs and field trips to basic ecological theory and northwest plant communities as well as to the interaction of plants, soil, soil organisms, climate, hydrology, fire, insects and diseases on the landscape. 
Course Grading

• Examinations:  Midterm (30%) and Final (30%)

2. Field trips and labs
1. Factsheets (2 per field trip: 4 x 2 = 8; Oral presentations of all 8 fact sheets but only 1 of each set will be turned in for grading): 20%
2. Participation
3. Journal and associated pre-field trip homework: 20%

Course Objectives

• Principles of ecology across an urban to wildland gradient
• PNW plant communities
• Interactions of plants, soils, microbes, climate, hydrology, fire, insects, diseases, and wildlife
• Challenges of managing ecological systems in the urbanizing PNW
• Develop critical analysis and documentation skills

Disability Accommodations

To request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact Disabled Student Services, 448 Schmitz, (206) 543-8924 (V/TTY). If you have a letter from Disabled Student Services indicating that you have a disability which requires academic accommodations, please present the letter to the instructor so we can arrange the accommodations needed for this class.

Academic Integrity
Plagiarism, cheating, and other misconduct are serious violations of your contract as a student. We expect that you will know and follow the University's policies on cheating and plagiarism. Any suspected cases of academic misconduct will be handled according to University regulations. More information, including definitions and examples of Academic Misconduct, is available at http://depts.washington.edu/grading/issue1/honesty.htm
Plagiarism in this course: We take plagiarism very seriously.  It is not acceptable to copy and paste from a source, EVEN WHEN CITED.  It defeats the purpose of the assignment (in this case, the Fact Sheets) since we are testing if you understand the material you are presenting.  When you submit an assignment, note your VeriCite score.  If it is flagged as potential plagiarism, rewrite the flagged sections in your own words.  It is not enough to simply change out a few words.  Read the source text, then look away and write what you just learned.  For international students, we would rather see your understanding of the information than it be written in perfect English.  First offenses will be given a warning and a 20% reduction in grade.  Further offenses will lead to notification of Academic Misconduct to the University.

 Course Syllabus: Lectures on Tuesdays, labs on either Wed. or Thurs.

Apr 2               Intro to forest and urban ecosystems and the urban-rural gradient; Climate
Apr 3&4          (WFS 107) Lab exercises on plant form and function and classification; campus tree tour

Apr 9               Principles of Ecology:  ecosystem functions, niches, succession
Apr 10&11      Meet at the Washington Park Arboretum Graham Visitor Center.  Finish by 5pm 

Apr 16             Soils along the urban to wildland gradient
Apr 17&18      (WFS107) Lab exercises: 
1) Soils: Textures, ratios, pH, water holding capacity, organic matter
2) Intro to molecular biology as a way to verify species identification
3) Plant ID (angiosperms): sketches in lab notebook

Apr 23             Beneficial insects (guest lecture by Prof. Tobin)
Apr 24&25      (WFS107) Lab exercises:  Symbiosis (the spectrum from pathogens/parasites to mutualists)

Apr 30             Wildlife along the urban to wildland gradient
May 1 &2        (Start in WFS107) Field trip to Union Bay Natural Area for wildlife; Fact Sheet presentations 

May 7              Biotic Disturbances
May 8&9         Midterm Exam (not including Biotic Disturbances)

May 14            Abiotic disturbances- fire, wind, avalanches, volcanic eruptions
May 15&16     (Meet in parking lot behind WFS) Field trip to SEA streets & Carkeek Park.  Return about 5:00 PM.  Fact Sheets

May 21                        Aquatic and riparian ecosystems
May 22&23     (Meet in parking lot behind WFS) Field trip to Snoqualmie River.  Return about 6:00 PM.  Fact Sheets

May 28                        Adaptations to different environments
May 29&30     (Meet in parking lot behind WFS) All Day field trip to East Side of Cascades.  7 AM to 7 PM!  Fact Sheets

June 4              Landscape management for sustainability (course review)
June 5&6         (WFS 107) Final exam (We will NOT use the UW-assigned final exam day)

---