Forest Ecology & Silviculture Courses

Courses Taught

FOR 3153C: Forest Ecology

Forest ecology is the study of the relationship of organisms with each other and the environment, specifically within a forested ecosystem. This course is designed to provide students with the conceptual background needed to understand the complexity of interactions that occur within a forest ecosystem over time.  Topics to be covered will include species response to the environment, life history characterisitcs, community interactions, plant and ecosystem production, nutrient cycling, disturbance and succession. Emphasis is also placed on developing professional skills needed to evaluate, apply, and present this conceptual material in the field of natural resource management.

FOR 3162C: Silviculture

Silviculture is the ‘art and science’ of creating and maintaining communities of trees to meet specific objectives on a sustainable basis. This course will cover the principles for establishing, tending, and regenerating stands in the context of ecological, economic, and social considerations. Topics to be covered include natural and artificial regeneration, site preparation, herbicide use, prescribed fire, thinning, and regeneration methods. Students will also learn how to inventory forest stands, generate treatment prescriptions, and use computer simulations for predicting post-cut stand development.

FNR 3410C: Natural Resource Sampling (co-taught with Dr. Debbie Miller)

Data collection is a key step in the ability to analyze and evaluate the environment around us. This course will examine the theory and practices for sampling a variety of natural resources including ground cover, shrubs, trees, coarse woody debris, soils, and animals. The course will start with a comprehensive review of elementary statistics, including theory of random sampling, calculating means, variance and confidence intervals, and conducting simple t-tests. Students will learn specific methods for field sampling which are commonly used in forestry, ecology, and wildlife management.

Courses in Development

FOR 3342C: Tree Biology

This course will present the principles of tree structure and function with relationships to forest environments and forestry practice. Topics to be covered include cellular development, regulation of growth, root and branch formation, shoot growth, cambial activity, and tree form and stem taper.

FOR 4165: Regional Silviculture/Forestry

The practice of forestry can vary considerably across different regions because of diverse ecological, economic, or social conditions. This course will examine a variety of silvicultural systems and forestry practices with respect to geographic differences in forest type, market opportunities, land use and land owner issues, as well as social and ethical concerns. Regional areas to be discussed will include the northeastern United States (northern hardwoods, spruce-fir forests), central eastern U.S. (Appalachian hardwoods), the southeastern U.S. (southern pines, bottomland hardwoods), the Pacific Northwest (douglas fir), western U.S. (lodgepole, ponderosa pine). Topics concerning international forestry will also be addressed. Students will have an opportunity to learn in-depth about a specific region of their choice, culminating in a formal report and presentation.