PLPR 561
RANGE ECOLOGY
Course Content
(Click here for course description)
Course Objective
This course is intended to give graduate students majoring in range science and forestry in-depth information about interrelated components of ecosystems in rangelands and forests and their functions.
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to accomplish the followings:
· Ability to understand ecological processes in rangelands
· Ability to use ecological information as basis for rangeland management
Reference Books
References are available at loan disk, Prince Salman Central Library
|
REF#1 |
Child, R.D. and H.F. Heady. 1994. Rangeland Ecology and Management. Westview Press, Boulder, CO. 521p |
|
REF#2 |
Hodgson, J. and A.W. Illius (ed.). 1996. The ecology and management of grazing ecosystems. CABI, UK. |
|
REF#3 |
Holechek, J.L.; R.A. Cole, J.T. Fisher, and R. Valdez. 2002. Natural Resources: Ecology, Economics and Policy Prentice Hall. 730p. |
Supplementary Readings
(Supplementary readings will be handed out one week prior to lecture)
|
SUPP# 1 |
Briske, D.D., S.D. Fuhlendorf and F.E. Smeins. 2005. State-and-transition models, thresholds, and rangeland health: a synthesis of ecological concepts and perspectives. Rangeland Ecology and Management 58:1-10. |
|
SUPP# 2 |
Briske, D.D., S.D. Fuhlendorf and F.E. Smeins. 2006. A unified framework for assessment and application of ecological thresholds. Rangeland Ecology and Management 59:225-236. |
|
SUPP# 3 |
Fuhlendorf, S.D., D.D. Briske and F.E. Smeins. 2001. Herbaceous vegetation change in variable rangeland environments: the relative contribution of grazing and climatic variability. Applied Vegetation Science 4:177-188. |
|
SUPP# 4 |
Briske, D.D. and J.R. Hendrickson. 1998. Does selective defoliation mediate competitive interactions in a semiarid savanna? A demographic field evaluation. Journal of Vegetation Science 9:611-622. |
|
SUPP# 5 |
Briske, D.D. & J.H. Richards. 1995. Plant responses to defoliation: A physiological, morphological & demographic evaluation. p635-710. Wildland Plants: Physiological Ecol & Developmental Morphology. DJ Bedunah & RE Sosebee (eds) SRM. Denver, CO |
Student Assessment
Students will be assessed on the following basis:
· One term-paper writing presentation on one issue of rangeland uses (30%)
· One med-term take-home exam (30%)
· An open-book final exam (40%)
Lecture schedule
|
Week |
Topic |
Supplementary Reading |
|
1 |
Introduction |
Chapter # 3 Ref. # 3, Chapter # 10 Ref. # 1 |
|
2 |
Range Ecosystem |
Chapter # 1 Ref. # 3 |
|
3 |
Range Ecosystem |
Chapter # 6 Ref. # 1 |
|
4-5 |
Range Ecosystem |
Chapter # 7 Ref. # 1 |
|
6 |
Med-Term Take-Home Exam Due |
|
7 |
Vegetation dynamics |
Chapter # 4 Ref. # 2 |
|
8 |
Vegetation dynamics |
Chapter # 4 Ref. # 2 |
|
9 |
Plant-Animal Relations |
Chapter # 2 Ref. # 1 |
|
10 |
Term-Paper Due – Student Presentation |
|
11-13 |
Plant-Animal Relations |
Chapter # 3 Ref. # 1 |
|
14-15 |
Plant-Animal Relations |
Chapter # 3 Ref. # 1 |
|
16 |
Final Exam |
Sample Exam