Forests

Forests are fundamentally important biomes for planet earth. In this upper division science program, we will learn to see the forest and the trees (and mosses and lichens) by studying the ecology and environmental history of Pacific Northwest forests. Students will learn: quantitative approaches and tools in forest measurements; foundational concepts in forest ecology and interactions among forest organisms; major biomes, and community types in forests of the northwest; field methods for assessing biodiversity of plants (including bryophytes) and lichens, along with developing laboratory skills for identifying bryophytes and lichens using microscopes and dichotomous keys. We will also hold a weekly seminar on books that address human interactions with forests, and especially in the Northwest. The texts will cover forest ecology concepts, forest science and forest genetics, environmental history of Pacific Northwest forests, and global issues in forest management and conservation.

This program will also include weekly field days where we will use local forests and The Evergreen State College Ecological Observation Network (EEON) to refine skills in measuring forests and detecting change using long-term data in forest ecosystems. Finally, a series of labs in the use of GIS in forest sciences will survey current use of remote sensing in forest ecology and teach students basic skills for navigating and interpreting GIS data in forest ecology. Scientific writing, quantitative skills, work with common computer software, field skills, and presentation/communication skills will all be emphasized.