DISTURBANCE ECOLOGY LAB (II): FOREST PATHOGENS
Explores natural and anthropogenic disturbances occurring in forest ecosystems through hands on learning experiences. Focuses on the causes of impoverished forests and the role and management of pathogens. 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: Fall 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 problems associated with and causes of depauperate understories in the Deciduous Forest Biome. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Describe the role of pathogens (including fungi, bacteria, and viruses) in forest disturbance. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain how population and community dynamics of plants are influenced by disturbance, stress, and species interactions. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Test novel hypotheses related to declining forest understory biodiversity, implement experimental protocols to falsify those hypotheses, graph/analyze/interpret results, and communicate these results 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 problems associated with and causes of depauperate understories in the Deciduous Forest Biome. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Describe the role of pathogens (including fungi, bacteria, and viruses) in forest disturbance. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain how population and community dynamics of plants are influenced by disturbance, stress, and species interactions. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Test novel hypotheses related to declining forest understory biodiversity, implement experimental protocols to falsify those hypotheses, graph/analyze/interpret results, and communicate these results 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