DENDROLOGY: WOODY PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND ECOLOGY

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: Sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab Breadth - Biological Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify all native Wisconsin trees, some common shrubs and vines, and a few important woody exotics by common and scientific name, in summer or winter condition. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Demonstrate a basic understanding of wood structure and use a key to identify blocks of wood. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Recognize the characteristic tree taxa of some of the world's major forest types and some interesting examples of the diversity of trees and their adaptations to their environments. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Compare the morphology, life history, and ecology of woody species to their distribution and habits. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Understand how humans affect the composition, structure and economic value of tree communities and apply this information to questions about management of woody vegetation under changing conditions. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Compare at least two methods for learning to identify a plant species using evidence from your experience in this course. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Construct new materials to teach woody plant ID or tree management issues to a particular target audience. Audience: Graduate 8. Survey current scientific literature on a particular topic relevant to management of woody vegetation under changing conditions, and summarize current knowledge and knowledge gaps. Recommend next steps in research to improve management. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify all native Wisconsin trees, some common shrubs and vines, and a few important woody exotics by common and scientific name, in summer or winter condition. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Demonstrate a basic understanding of wood structure and use a key to identify blocks of wood. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Recognize the characteristic tree taxa of some of the world's major forest types and some interesting examples of the diversity of trees and their adaptations to their environments. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Compare the morphology, life history, and ecology of woody species to their distribution and habits. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Understand how humans affect the composition, structure and economic value of tree communities and apply this information to questions about management of woody vegetation under changing conditions. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Compare at least two methods for learning to identify a plant species using evidence from your experience in this course. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Construct new materials to teach woody plant ID or tree management issues to a particular target audience. Audience: Graduate 8. Survey current scientific literature on a particular topic relevant to management of woody vegetation under changing conditions, and summarize current knowledge and knowledge gaps. Recommend next steps in research to improve management. Audience: Graduate