2009 Summer Course Schedule (tentative):
Taxonomy and Natural History of Southern Appalachian Mayflies, Stoneflies, and Caddisflies
Four
semester hours. John C. Morse (Clemson University)
Natural history and taxonomy of mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera), and caddisflies (Trichoptera), including systematics, ecology, and behavior of larvae and adults, with emphasis on those aspects important in ecological studies, biological monitoring of water quality, and sport fishing. Insects will be collected from mountain stream habitats, and identifications will be done in the laboratory. Click here for course syllabus.
Prerequisites: general biology, entomology, or permission of instructor.
Conservation Biology of Amphibians
Four semester hours. Raymond D. Semlitsch (University of Missouri,
Columbia)
This course is designed for advanced students and wildlife professionals who are interested in understanding the basic processes that regulate natural populations of amphibians, as well as contemporary problems associated with the conservation of amphibian diversity. Students will participate in a class field project on the effects of forest management practices on woodland salamanders and sharpen their communication skills through individual presentations on selected topics. Click here for course syllabus.
Prerequisites: herpetology or vertebrate biology, ecology or population biology, or permission of instructor.
Conservation Biology--Principles for Conservation Illustrated by the Diverse and Dynamic Landscape of the Southern Appalachians
Four semester hours. Peter S. White (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
This course presents the major biological
principles that are important in our efforts to conserve biological
diversity. The setting of Highlands Biological Station will allow us to
examine and illustrate those principles through field work in Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Highlands area.
Topics to be covered include: the history and philosophy of conservation
goals, the definition and measurement of biological diversity, island
biogeography and conservation, communities and ecosystems, natural
disturbance and patch dynamics, the special problems of islands, exotic
species, and ecological restoration. Students will explore computer
simulations of ecosystem and population dynamics, population genetics, and
island biogeography. Click here
for tentative course syllabus.
Prerequisites: general biology, ecology, or permission of instructor.
Forest Ecosystems of the Southern Appalachian Mountains
Four semester hours. Thomas R.
Wentworth (North Carolina State University), Peter S. White (University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill), and Stephanie Jeffries (North Carolina
State University)
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to patterns and processes in forested ecosystems of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The focus is on natural vegetation, with an emphasis on vascular plants. Through lectures, readings, and discussions, students will be introduced to a series of topics, including biogeography, paleoecology, classification of vegetation, regional environmental patterns, succession and community dynamics, vegetation/environmental relationships, and current threats to the integrity of these systems. Trips to a variety of natural areas will illustrate these topics in the field. Students will be expected to participate fully in all group activities and to maintain personal journals summarizing the information presented. Click here for tentative course manual.
Prerequisites: general biology, ecology, or permission of the instructor.
Ecology of Rock Outcrop Communities
Four semester hours. Keith
Clay (Indiana University)
Granite outcrop communities represent a very small fraction of land surface area in the southeastern US (approx. 12,000 acres total) but contain a disproportionately large number of endemic plant species and unique community types. In addition to the flatrock communities along the fall line, and isolated granite domes (e.g. Stone Mountain, GA) in the piedmont, this course will focus on high altitude rock outcrop communities found in the Highlands region. The objectives are to investigate patterns of biodiversity and ecological interactions in relation to the biotic and abiotic environment of rock outcrop communities, theories of succession, community assembly and island biogeography. Field trips and data collection will be combined with lectures, discussions, and independent research projects. Click here for tentative course syllabus.
Prerequisites: general biology, ecology, or permission of instructor.
Vascular Plants of the Southern Appalachians
Four semester hours. Paul S. Manos (Duke University)
The vascular flora of the Southern
Appalachians is extremely rich. This course will introduce students to
the full diversity of vascular plants, focusing on identification of
characteristic and endemic taxa. A variety of keys and regional floras
will be used. There will be lectures, labs, and field trips to sites in
the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Field
trips will involve some moderate hiking.
Prerequisites: general biology, ecology, or permission of instructor.
Summer Course Application Form
Bryophyte Identification Workshop - Liverworts, Hornworts, and Mosses
Paul G. Davison (University of North Alabama)
The
Highlands area harbors
an incredible diversity and abundance of bryophytes. This workshop
aims to give participants an in-depth appreciation for this often
overlooked group of plants and the tools to identify them. This workshop
is suitable for naturalists and professionals. Topics to be presented
include bryophyte ecology, reproductive biology, morphology, and
conservation concerns for regional species. Field trips will emphasize
field recognition of many species. Methods of collecting, herbarium
preservation, and laboratory dissection will be practiced. Taxonomic
keying will rely on microscopic characters. Participants will build a
personal herbarium of reference specimens. Cost for this workshop
is $300, which includes housing. Students are eligible for two credit
hours with $80 handling fee. Click here
for course syllabus.
Diseases and Other Pests of Forest Trees in the Southern Appalachian Mountains
Dr. Rich Baird (Mississippi State University) and Dr. Mark Windham (University of Tennessee)
The
Southern Appalachians support a rich and diverse community of forest tree
and shrub species. This course covers forest diseases, with an emphasis
on pathogen ecology, epidemiology, physiology, taxonomy, transmission or
dissemination mechanisms, and associated pests such as insects and
nematodes. Lectures, laboratory activities, and field trips will focus on
dogwood anthracnose, beech bark disease, rusts of conifers, chestnut
blight, sudden oak death, and other emerging diseases. Using GPS
equipment, students will also learn to establish field impact plots and to
determine the extent of damage and disease progression associated with
biotic and abiotic damage. Cost for this workshop is $600, which includes
housing. Students are eligible for four credit hours with $80 handling
fee.