DISTURBANCE ECOLOGY LAB (I): HERBIVORES AND FIRE
Explores natural and anthropogenic disturbances occurring in forest ecosystems through hands on learning experiences. Emphasis on the role of herbivores and fire with examination of management strategies. Applies basic ecological laboratory and field techniques to understanding disturbances that change the physical environment and disrupt ecosystem structure.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130 , ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 151 , BIOCORE 381 , or graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab Breadth - Biological Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Discuss the importance of disturbance for ecosystem processes (e.g., nutrient cycling, biodiversity, soil development, etc.) Audience: Undergraduate 2. Describe the effect of herbivores and fire on local forest habitats. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Identify native and non-native members of local forest ecosystems and explain how they respond to herbivory and fire. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain how population and community dynamics of plants are influenced by disturbance, stress, and species interactions. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Formulate novel hypotheses related to declining forest understory biodiversity, design experimental protocols to falsify those hypotheses, and communicate research proposals in oral and written forms to a scientific audience. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Apply basic ecological laboratory and field techniques to understanding ecological principles. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Discuss the importance of disturbance for ecosystem processes (e.g., nutrient cycling, biodiversity, soil development, etc.) Audience: Undergraduate 2. Describe the effect of herbivores and fire on local forest habitats. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Identify native and non-native members of local forest ecosystems and explain how they respond to herbivory and fire. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain how population and community dynamics of plants are influenced by disturbance, stress, and species interactions. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Formulate novel hypotheses related to declining forest understory biodiversity, design experimental protocols to falsify those hypotheses, and communicate research proposals in oral and written forms to a scientific audience. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Apply basic ecological laboratory and field techniques to understanding ecological principles. Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027