Plant Ecology. Cr. 4

Tom Rosburg, Drake University

UI: 00L:121

ISU: Ia LL 484

UNI: 890:121(g)

Plant ecology is the study of the relationship of plants to their environment in order to understand the processes affecting the pattern of vegetation on landscapes.  Studies of native vegetation in local prairies, wetlands and forests are used to examine the principles of plant ecology at organismal, population, community/ecosystem, and landscape levels. Completion of a general course in Ecology and an introductory course in Botany is recommended but not required.  Meets July 7 to August 1, 2008.

Major topics will include energy allocation, reproduction and pollination, resource partitioning and niches, plant ecophysiology, life-history characteristics, age and size structured demography, clonal growth, intra- and inter-specific interactions, seed ecology and seed banks, succession, and the environmental variables affecting the composition, structure and productivity of native plant communities. Class time will be divided between lectures and fieldwork. There is an emphasis on data collection and the use of various statistics, primarily t-tests, ANOVA, regression and an introduction to multivariate analyses. Students are required to write a research paper on a study completed by the class. Students are expected to participate in two field trips - a two-trip to the Loess Hills in western Iowa and a three-day trip to northeast Iowa's Paleozoic Plateau. Both are camping trips so students should provide a sleeping bag and personal camping gear (tents and cooking equipment will be provided). Appropriate field gear and clothing are recommended (including rain gear, hiking boots, old tennis shoes for wading in rivers and wetlands, a water bottle, work gloves, mosquito & tick repellent, and a hat). A  calculator, writing materials, clipboard, and a flash drive will also be needed for data collection and analysis. Terrestrial Plant Ecology (Barbour, Burk and Pitts; ISBN #0-8053-0541-6) will be used as a textbook/reference but is NOT required. Assigned readings from the scientific literature will be provided. Field trip fee: $85.

For more information, please contact Dr.Rosburg.

Phone: 515-271-2920

Email: thomas.rosburg@drake.edu