Courses offered by the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies are described below. The letters “a” and “b” following the course numbers indicate fall- and spring-term courses respectively. Bracketed courses will not be offered during the academic year.

Project courses embrace individually assigned advanced field or laboratory work, or literature review, on topics of special interest to the student; credits and hours for these projects are determined for each student in consultation with the instructor.

Courses throughout the University are generally open to students enrolled in the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, subject to limitations on class size and requirements for prerequisites. Courses numbered 500 and above are graduate courses.

The sequence of numbers does not reflect level of advancement.

Ecology

Ecosystem Ecology

F&ES 32001b Methods of Ecosystem Analysis (519b)
F&ES 32002b Tropical Ecosystem Dynamics and Anthropogenic Change (528b)
[F&ES 33003b] Seminar in the Conservation and Development of Amazonia (556b)
[F&ES 30004b] Reconciling Development and Conservation on the Amazon Frontier: A Tropical Conservation Field Course (557b)
F&ES 32005b Scientific Bases of Sustainable Agriculture (571b)
F&ES 32006a Tropical Forest Ecology: The Basis for Conservation and Management (574a)
F&ES 32007a Ecosystem Pattern and Process (575a)
F&ES 30008b Topics in the Tropics (604b)
F&ES 30009a Biogeography, Biodiversity, and Conservation (621a)
F&ES 30010b Tropical Field Botany (623b)
F&ES 30121b Biological Oceanography
F&ES 30022a Field Ecology

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology

F&ES 32011a Aquatic Ecology (509a)
[F&ES 33012a] Species and Ecosystem Conservation: An Interdisciplinary Approach (520a)
[F&ES 30013b] Molecular Ecology (526b)
F&ES 30114b Wildlife Conservation (560b)
[F&ES 33015a] Human Dimensions in the Conservation of Biological Diversity (565a)
[F&ES 30016a] Molecular Ecology Seminar (578a)
F&ES 30017a Molecular Systematics Laboratory (587a)
F&ES 30018b Conservation Genetics Seminar (588b)
F&ES 32019a Landscape Ecology (760a)
F&ES 30020b Ecology Seminar (762b)

Ecology

Ecosystem Ecology

F&ES 32001b, Methods of Ecosystem Analysis. 3 credits. This course exposes students to ecosystem-level questions; demonstrates field-data collection and laboratory analyses; emphasizes data manipulation on the microcomputer; and introduces professional data presentation techniques (plotting, transparencies, slides, Web design). Some projects chosen by students have large enough data sets to test hypotheses and develop publishable conclusions. Class sessions consist of a morning lecture and afternoon in field and laboratory. See website. Thomas G. Siccama.

F&ES 32002b, Tropical Ecosystem Dynamics and Anthropogenic Change. 3 credits. This course has four major objectives: to introduce students to the major conceptual and theoretical questions and approaches in tropical terrestrial ecology; to compare and contrast tropical ecosystems for insights into the similarities and differences of specific regions; to integrate empirical studies on tropical ecosystem dynamics with management concerns; and to explore how anthropogenic change has altered tropical ecosystems. Current topics to be addressed in depth from an ecological perspective include: land use and forest fragmentation; timber harvest and plantations; hunting and non-timber product extraction; and synergistic effects of climate, land use, fire, and ecological interactions. This course links an ecological understanding of terrestrial ecosystem dynamics at multiple spatio-temporal scales with problem solving and specific applications in major tropical biomes. Primary scientific literature supplements lectures and discussion. Participants complete a review paper, policy memoranda, and a final interdisciplinary grant proposal. Prerequisites: a basic course in ecology or equivalent. Three hours lecture and discussion. Lisa M. Curran.

[F&ES 33003b, Seminar in the Conservation and Development of Amazonia. 3 credits. The human enterprise is exploiting and substituting the world's tropical forests through a highly predictable process of frontier expansion and consolidation. Governance capacity and the prospect for natural resource conservation emerge only as the frontier boom economy goes "bust" and resources are largely depleted. In this seminar, we analyze the ecology, economics, and politics of Amazonia with the goal of learning to design robust, interdisciplinary approaches to the large-scale conservation of tropical forest ecosystems. We examine the biodiversity paradigm that dominates tropical conservation efforts today, the political constituencies (local, national, and international) in support of conservation and sustainable economies in Amazonia, and the emerging markets for ecological services performed by tropical forests (carbon storage, watershed function, biodiversity conservation). Finally, we review approaches to Amazon forest conservation in the context of scenarios of regional and global climate change. Lisa M. Curran, Daniel Nepstad, David McGrath.]

[F&ES 30004b, Reconciling Development and Conservation on the Amazon Frontier: A Tropical Conservation Field Course. 1 credit. The human enterprise is exploiting and substituting the world's tropical forests through a highly predictable process of frontier expansion and consolidation. In the typical sequence, geopolitical and economic policies drive frontier expansion into remote forest landscapes through investments in transportation systems and other infrastructure, and through fiscal incentives, stimulating "boom" economies of resource exploitation. Governance capacity and the prospect for forest conservation generally emerge only as the boom economy goes "bust" and the forests are already reduced to fragments. In this course, we examine the competing interests of private enterprise, environmental conservation, and social movements during three three-hour lecture/discussions in New Haven. We further explore the interactions among tropical frontier actors during a thirteen-day expedition along a portion of the Cuiabá-Santarém highway in east-central Amazonia (Brazil), which is slated for paving. Each student conducts an independent research project that draws on both the theoretical and field components of the course. Enrollment limited to twelve. Lisa M. Curran, Daniel Nepstad, David McGrath.]

F&ES 32005b/EVST 325b/MCDB 235b, Scientific Bases of Sustainable Agriculture. 3 credits. An exploration of the scientific bases of plant productivity in natural and agricultural systems worldwide, the ecological effects of modern intensive agriculture, and the challenge of attaining a secure supply of food through ecologically sound and sustainable practices. Prerequisites: chemistry and a basic course in biology, ecology, or the equivalent. Seminar meets twice weekly for 1 hour 50 minutes each. Second period each week devoted to observation and discussion of plants in the laboratory and Marsh Botanical Garden. In addition to the regular class assignments, graduate students read and summarize relevant experimental work in the primary literature for the class as a whole. Other work includes short written reports, a midterm essay, and a final term paper on a relevant topic chosen by the student. Mary Helen Goldsmith.

F&ES 32006a, Tropical Forest Ecology: The Basis for Conservation and Management. 3 credits. This course summarizes ecological knowledge on tropical forest ecosystems and shows how this scientific basis can be used for forest management, conservation, and rehabilitation. Topics include: importance of tropical forests: productive and environmental services; ecological characteristics of tropical forests; soils of the tropics: types, fertility, physical properties, and management; nutrient cycling; natural forest structure and composition; the forest microenvironment: light, temperature, and water; high-elevation forests and savannas; tree growth and reproductive ecology; plant species diversity; plant-animal interactions; effects of disturbance; forest succession and regeneration; management of primary and secondary forests; non-timber forest products; plantation forestry: productivity and environmental services; community forestry; ecological and social aspects of agroforestry; rehabilitation of degraded tropical forest ecosystems. Three hours lecture. Florencia Montagnini.

F&ES 32007a, Ecosystem Pattern and Process. 4 credits. Ecosystem science provides a unique vantage point from which scientists can begin to understand complex adaptive systems. The basis of ecosystem science is to determine how patterns in biological processes emerge from interactions between organisms and the abiotic environment. This course introduces the ecosystem concept, investigates the structure and functioning of ecological systems, studies the response of systems to changing environmental conditions, and applies resulting knowledge to preservation and management issues. Presentation is balanced between terrestrial and marine/aquatic systems. Students must take one of two field options. In the first a cross-section of northeastern ecosystems is visited and studied during a four-hour weekly field trip, assignments and discussions are qualitative, and students receive one credit. The second option is Field Ecology, which is a second three-credit course (see course description, 30022a). Students taking Field Ecology can utilize their final project for both classes. Peter A. Raymond, Oswald J. Schmitz, Thomas G. Siccama.

F&ES30008b, Topics in the Tropics. 1 credit. Seminar course with topics suggested by the faculty and selected by the students based on class interest. The aim is to discuss current papers, review methods, and discuss our research in progress around the selected topical focus. Students critique papers, discuss and debate methods, and offer their work in progress for group input. The course is graded credit/noncredit only. There are no written submissions or examinations. Lisa M. Curran.

F&ES 30009a, Biogeography, Biodiversity, and Conservation. 3 credits. This course is designed to apply the principles of systematics to historic and ecological biogeography and in turn apply these to the conservation of biodiversity. In doing so, consideration is given to the circumscription of terrestrial biomes and speciation and extinction models. Reconstruction of past geologic and climatic events as well as the impact of human activities is related to the current distribution of the biota. The use of this information as related to CITES legislation and the development of IUCN Action Plans is explored through case studies. Dennis W. Stevenson.

F&ES 30010b, Tropical Field Botany. 3 credits. This course teaches students how to identify the most important tropical plant families, with an emphasis on trees. Students learn key characteristics for identification. We concentrate on those families that have high economic or ethnobotanic value. We also discuss distribution, habitat, and ecology. Different families or groups of families are covered by instructors from the New York Botanical Garden, all world-class experts in their respective families/groups. The course has a strong practical component, and instructors emphasize vegetative characters with which to identify families. The course includes a one-week field trip to Puerto Rico. NYBG Faculty

F&ES 30121b, Biological Oceanography. 3 credits. This course explores a range of coastal and pelagic ecosystems and how these environments function as a coupled physical/biological system. Solar energy drives the structuring of the oceans in the vertical dimension, and the formation of both deep and surface currents. These currents are the means by which heat and material are redistributed, and are the determinants of where nutrients are available for support of primary production. The currents and other physical processes also determine the distribution and abundance of organisms from phytoplankton to fish and whales. This natural science course provides a foundation for those interested in the ecology of marine systems and in the management of coastal zones. Prerequisite: college-level biology course. Recommended: college-level ecology course. Three hours lecture; field trips. Mary Beth Decker.

F&ES 30022a, Field Ecology. 3 credits. A field-based introduction to methodology used by ecologists in field studies. Descriptive studies, comparative analysis, modeling, and experimental approaches are explored using class or small-group projects relevant to major topics in ecology. After E&EB 122b and concurrently with or after E&EB 220a. Limited enrollment. Melinda Smith, David Post, Peter A. Raymond, Thomas G. Siccama.

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology

F&ES 32011a/E&EB 370a/670a, Aquatic Ecology. 4 credits. An intensive introduction to the ecology of populations and communities in freshwater systems. The aim of this class is to learn the concepts, patterns, and organisms important in lakes and streams along with the major techniques of information collection and analysis. Weekly field trips are used to gather data that form the basis of lab exercises and research projects. The course presumes familiarity with ecological concepts and terminology. Permission of the instructor required. David K. Skelly.

[F&ES 33012a, Species and Ecosystem Conservation: An Interdisciplinary Approach. 3 credits. The loss of global biodiversity is a major problem with profound repercussions for present and future human generations. Professional conservationists now living are the last generation that can prevent the extinction of large numbers of species and the disruption of large-scale ecosystem processes. Professionals must apply relevant conservation sciences and at the same time know explicitly about the organizational and policy settings in which they work. The course combines the problem-solving approaches of the conservation sciences with the policy sciences by surveying a range of policy and organizational contexts, theories, and techniques, using a variety of case studies. The role of the individual professional in these complex contexts is emphasized. Susan G. Clark.]

[F&ES 30013b/E&EB 326b/E&EB 526b, Molecular Ecology. 1 credit. This course provides an overview of the molecular genetic tools used to investigate ecological and evolutionary processes in natural populations. It is intended for undergraduates with basic knowledge of ecology, evolution, and genetics and for graduate students looking for an overview of the applications of molecular tools in ecology, evolution, and environmental sciences. The use of molecular markers is explored right through the hierarchy of life from studies of genetic individuality, parentage, kinship, population substructure, species boundaries, phylogenetics among species of different levels of similarity. Special topics include conservation genetics, microbial biology, ecological genomics, and environmental impact of genetically modified organisms. Adalgisa Caccone.]

F&ES 30114b/E&EB 660b, Wildlife Conservation. 3 credits. The course introduces students to concepts related to gathering and applying scientific information for problem solving in wildlife conservation, including conducting management as adaptivescientific experimentation. The course explores conceptually the kinds of ecological knowledge needed for wildlife conservation, including how species behavior and life history evolves and ultimately how that shapes population demography. Students learn how to formalize that knowledge in a mathematical framework in order to support effective decision making in conservation. Students learn how to apply the tools to real-world problem solving, such as population viability analysis, population viability in the face of habitat fragmentation and destruction, and bioreserves design. The course also deals with the ethics associated with applying scientific knowledge to solve conservation problems. Prerequisite: F&ES 32019 or 32007, and an undergraduate mathematics course. Three hours lecture and one hour discussion. Oswald J. Schmitz.

[F&ES 33015a, Human Dimensions in the Conservation of Biological Diversity. 3 credits. The course focuses on socioeconomic, psychological, and cultural issues in the management and conservation of biological diversity. Topics include biodiversity loss, endangered species, human/wildlife conflicts, utilization, parks and protected -areas, attitudes and values, and legal and organizational structures. Issues involving the conservation of biological diversity in the United States and internationally are covered. Three hours. Stephen R. Kellert.]

[F&ES 30016a/E&EB 375a/675a, Molecular Ecology Seminar. 2 credits. The seminar focuses on molecular techniques commonly used in the past to address ecology/systematic related questions. The idea is to provide students with knowledge of all possible molecular techniques in the field, so that they can evaluate results in the literature and be able to choose the best technological tool to address a specific research question. The seminar is organized by techniques. In each session the technical aspects of a particular molecular method are discussed in detail, evaluating: (1) different protocols, (2) their limits and merits for different types of ecological and evolutionary questions, (3) the genetic assumptions inherent in each method, (4) the analytical aspects of the interpretation of the results. The discussion includes actual case studies, which students are challenged to critically evaluate. The two final weeks are devoted to relating these molecular approaches to problems in conservation biology. Adalgisa Caccone.]

F&ES 30017a/E&EB 315La, Molecular Systematics Laboratory. 3 credits. The course focuses on molecular techniques in evolutionary biology (DNA extraction, PCR, cloning, sequencing) and their application to field studies of natural history, population genetic structure, mating systems, paternity, and the historical analysis of lineages. The course consists of a series of lectures and independent research projects carried out by each student. Aside from the bench work, experimental design, statistical analysis of genetic data, and phylogenetic reconstruction within and among species are emphasized, illustrating how the disciplines of population biology and phylogenetic systematics increasingly overlap. The course revolves around a few class projects. Each student carries out his/her part of these projects; data gathered by all students is then combined and analyzed together. The primary objectives are to give students both a strong foundation in the systematics and conservation questions and issues that can be addressed with a molecular approach, and a working knowledge of the molecular tools necessary to address those issues. Both of these components are essential to the training of those individuals who will conduct research in these emerging and rapidly growing fields. Adalgisa Caccone.

F&ES 30018b/E&EB 320b/620b, Conservation Genetics Seminar. 3 credits. This seminar is intended to provide an introduction to conservation genetics for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. The goal is to provide students with an understanding of the importance of genetic diversity and the means for preserving it. Adalgisa Caccone.

F&ES 32019a/E&EB 365a/665a, Landscape Ecology. 3 credits. This course is an introduction to the study of large-scale ecological patterns and processes. Landscape ecology is a relatively young, rapidly changing field. The topics covered reflect the diverse interests of landscape ecologists: species-area relationships, island biogeography, metapopulation theory, individual-based models, cellular automata, models of biodiversity, etc. The application of these concepts is addressed through consideration of species viability, ecosystem management, and the design of nature reserves. Throughout the course the emphasis is on when and how to integrate a spatial perspective into consideration of major ecological questions. Readings from the primary literature augment material covered in lectures. Students complete a project resulting in a manuscript on a landscape-related topic. David K. Skelly.

F&ES 30020b, Ecology Seminar. 1 credit. The ability to read and understand the literature is a critical skill. This seminar is structured to encourage participation in discussions of papers from the ecological literature. The specific papers to be read vary from year to year; however, each year we focus on papers that have made major contributions to the conceptual foundations of ecology. Many of the papers have direct or indirect relevance to applied issues such as the conservation of species and ecosystems. Seminar responsibilities include active participation in weekly meetings and the leadership of one discussion. David K. Skelly.