Ecology of U.S. National Parks

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

In this course, we will explore principles of geology, ecology, wildlife conservation, ecosystem restoration, and climate adaptation through the lens of U.S. National Parks. After introducing the history and management of “America’s best idea”, we will spend the semester engaging with the primary scientific literature to gain a deeper understanding of the geological and ecological processes that shape our nation’s landscapes and wildlife. Through detailed exploration of eight focal parks, we will traverse some of America’s most iconic terrestrial biomes and aquatic environments to gain a comprehensive view of their formation, ecosystem dynamics, and future resilience. Geologically, we consider the mechanisms that created these landscapes, including plate tectonics, hydrothermal systems, volcanic hotspots, and high-order rivers capable of carving immense canyons. We will additionally traverse ecological scales from populations through communities, ecosystems, and landscapes, and explore the roles of disturbance, disease, competition, trophic interactions, and changing climatic conditions in shaping terrestrial, aquatic, and marine life. We will explore a myriad of habitats within our eight focal parks (ranging from deserts to rainforests to alpine tundra on land, and from riparian ecosystems to coastal wetlands and coral reefs under water), and additionally survey lesser-known parks through our “Ultimate Park Competition”. Finally, we will engage with nature on a personal level as we visit Shenandoah National Park to create interpretative educational displays that effectively communicate the value of parks to the broader public. As we pursue these goals throughout the semester, we will continually grapple with the difficulties inherent in the dual-vision of U.S. National Parks as protected areas for conservation and popular areas for recreation. We will debate controversial topics circulating within the scientific community (e.g., trophic cascades) and broader public (e.g., responsible ecotourism) in order to formulate our own opinions on these contentious issues. While our focus will be on the science underlying the geology, ecology, and management of these wild spaces, I will also encourage you to consider the value of U.S. National Parks as our shared heritage. As eloquently stated by Mollie Beattie, the first female director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: “What a country chooses to save is what a country chooses to say about itself.” In this course, we will see what our protected areas say about the United States, while discovering the geological forces and ecological principles that have shaped our nation’s landscapes for millennia.