Study of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of wetland ecosystems, human impacts on wetlands, and wetland management.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1.  To become acquainted with the various types of wetlands present in North America, and the plants and animals inhabiting these wetlands.

 2.  To understand how wetlands function as ecosystems and landscape components, and their role in global element cycling and climate regulation.

 3.  To examine and evaluate methods for wetland creation, restoration and management.

 4.  To become familiar with wetland issues and explore possible solutions.

 5.  To improve research and communication skills through participation in class activities
 

TEXTBOOK:  Mitsch, W. J. and J. G. Gosselink.  2007.  Wetlands.  4th Edition. John Wiley, New York

COURSE WORK AND EVALUATION:

CLASS LECTURES AND NOTE TAKING:  Students are expected to attend all classes, read ahead of time, and help keep the class lively by initiating and participating in discussion. Each Monday you will receive a handout with questions you will answer based on reading the textbook, searching on-line sites and/or notetaking during lectures.  I will collect these on Fridays.  

TERM PROJECT: Traditionally students in this class have created individual websites on wetlands of personal interest for their term project, and benefited considerably from this experience.  However with staffing at the Center for Teaching and Learning down and student numbers up, this project needs abbreviation.  The plan at present is to create a class wiki to which each student will contribute.  This will count for less of your overall grade than the individual web sites did in the past. A handout with details will follow.

EXAMINATIONS:  There will be two mid-session exams in addition to a final.

GRADUATE STUDENTS:

The Graduate College requires that graduate students carry out more work than undergraduates in courses at the 200-level.  In this course, I will ask graduate students to research regulatory activity regarding wetlands since publication of the textbook and provide a discussion of this in class.

GRADING:

Undergraduate:

 Completion of handouts        20%
 Term project                        20%
 Mid-session exams (2)          40%
 Final                                    20%
 

Graduate:

 Completion of handouts        20%
 Term project                        20%
 Classroom presentation          5%
 Mid-session exams (2)          37%
 Final                                    18%