PLANTS FOR ECOLOGICAL DESIGN I

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: LAND ARC 250 , ( BOTANY 100 , BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130 , ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 152 , or BIOCORE 381 and 382 ), and sophomore standing, or graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab Breadth - Natural 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 the aesthetic, functional, and cultural characteristics of key native plants of Wisconsin's forests, wetlands and grasslands as they appear in the field and use them together to create beautiful, resilient and high performing outdoor spaces that enhance human health and well-being and provide global ecosystem services. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Match the plant species used in design to the unique environmental conditions of each site so that they enhance and do not detract from beneficial ecosystem services. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Compile a personal plant portfolio consisting of hand-drawn sketches of woody and herbaceous plants and information on each plant's form, function, community interactions, habitat requirements, design attributes, ecosystem contributions, and cultivation and management requirements. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Select plants for a landscape design using a process that begins with and is guided by an understanding of the composition, structure, and dynamics of the natural plant communities found in the region. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Perform a literature review of current understandings of the ecosystem services provided by specific plants or propose an experiment or monitoring system to measure ecosystem services in the field. Audience: Graduate 6. Use hand graphics, notes, and mapping and sampling techniques to illustrate the character of individual plants and the composition and structure of plant communities in the field. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Apply sustainability principles and/or frameworks to address the challenges of creating sustainable cities and communities, and prevent the extinction of species. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Use sustainability principles for developing personal goals and professional values. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify the aesthetic, functional, and cultural characteristics of key native plants of Wisconsin's forests, wetlands and grasslands as they appear in the field and use them together to create beautiful, resilient and high performing outdoor spaces that enhance human health and well-being and provide global ecosystem services. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Match the plant species used in design to the unique environmental conditions of each site so that they enhance and do not detract from beneficial ecosystem services. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Compile a personal plant portfolio consisting of hand-drawn sketches of woody and herbaceous plants and information on each plant's form, function, community interactions, habitat requirements, design attributes, ecosystem contributions, and cultivation and management requirements. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Select plants for a landscape design using a process that begins with and is guided by an understanding of the composition, structure, and dynamics of the natural plant communities found in the region. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Perform a literature review of current understandings of the ecosystem services provided by specific plants or propose an experiment or monitoring system to measure ecosystem services in the field. Audience: Graduate 6. Use hand graphics, notes, and mapping and sampling techniques to illustrate the character of individual plants and the composition and structure of plant communities in the field. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Apply sustainability principles and/or frameworks to address the challenges of creating sustainable cities and communities, and prevent the extinction of species. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Use sustainability principles for developing personal goals and professional values. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad