Forest Resources Courses
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Anthony S. Davis, Dept. Head, Dept. of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences (204 CNR Bldg. 83844-1133; phone 208/885-7952; fores@uidaho.edu).
Prerequisite: Courses in this subject field that are numbered above 299 are not open to undergraduate students on academic probation.
For 102 Introduction to Forest Management (1 cr)
Intro to forestry, current management issues, timber and non-timber resources, educational and professional opportunities.
For 200 (s) Seminar (cr arr)
For 221 Ecology (3 cr)
Fundamental principles of ecology. Major topics covered in the course include the physical environment, how organisms interact with each other and their environment, evolutionary processes, population dynamics, communities, energy flow and ecosystems, human influences on ecosystems, and the integration and scaling of ecological processes through systems ecology. Recommended preparation: introductory botany and zoology
Prereq: Biol 102/102L, 115, 116, or PlSc 205; or Permission
For 235 Society and Natural Resources (3 cr)
Same as CSS 235. An exploration of how people use, value, manage, impact, and are affected by natural resources; course emphasizes social and economic realities and political and legal processes in a context of current and historical natural resource issues. Two lectures and one 1-hr small discussion group meeting a week.
For 255 Nursery Irrigation and Fertilization (1 cr)
An introduction to nursery irrigation and fertilization practices commonly found in forest tree seedling and native plant nurseries. This course aims to provide some of the important theory behind the practices used every day in successful crop production. The course will be taught by faculty and staff at the UI Pitkin Forest Nursery and managed as part of the annual Position Description process. The course is developed and is presently offered online.
For 274 Forest Measurement and Inventory (3 cr)
Practical techniques for the design and execution of vegetation measurements for the inventory of forests, shrublands, and fire-fuels. Three one-hour lectures and one three-hour lab per week. (Fall only)
Prereq: Math 143; or SAT math score of 610 or above, or ACT math score of 27 or above.
Prereq or Coreq: Math 144
For 299 (s) Directed Study (cr arr)
For 310 Indigenous Culture and Ecology (3 cr, max 9)
Students will explore how both endemic plant and animal species and native culture have been impacted by non- native species. A roughly 10 day field trip to remote communities requires active and effective participation, hands-on projects are conducted in those communities based on preparatory materials, and a there is a major presentation for Idaho stakeholders upon completion of the field trip.
For 320 Dendrology (4 cr)
Phylogenetic approach to understanding the systematics, morphology, geography, and ecology of the major species of North American woody plants. Includes identification and classification of important tree species of North American and other important woody plants of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky Mountains. Three lectures and two 1.5-hour labs a week; two 1-day field trips.
Prereq or Coreq: Biol 116 or PlSc 205
For 324 Forest Regeneration (3 cr)
Natural and artificial regeneration of forest ecosystems; reproduction methods; selection of seed source and stock type; nursery cultural practices; tree improvement; site preparation methods to establish regeneration. One lecture and one 2-hr lab a week. Two all day field trips. A semester-long project requires time spent weekly in a nursery to regularly monitor plant development under varied environmental conditions (approximately 45 hours over the 18-week spring semester in addition to lectures, labs and out-of-class studying). (Spring only)
Prereq: For 274, For 330, Soil 205 and Soil 206
For 325 Numerical Analysis for Fire Managers (4 cr)
The assembly, summarizing and display of fire management data, including fuels inventories, fire occurrence, behavior, and weather, as well as environmental and other effects of fire. Students will learn to formulate testable hypotheses from data, develop predictive equations and correlations, create probability-weighted decision matrices, and draw supportable conclusions from analyses. Intensive off-campus short course with pre-work and homework. Course is only open to students enrolled in the US Technical Fire Management program. (Fall only)
Prereq: 1 year of high school math and a minimum 5 years of experience in natural resource management
For 326 Fire Ecology and Management (3 cr)
Credit may only be earned in For 326 or For 426, but not both. The study of wildfire as a biophysical and ecological process, including controls of wildfires, ecological effects of wildfires, fire history, and fire in the context of global environmental change. Current issues in fire management in the Western US and globally, including readings and discussions of recent scientific literature. One-day field trip with data collection and formal lab write up. (Fall only).
For 330 Forest Soil and Canopy Processes (4 cr)
Above- and below-ground biophysical processes that determine how forest ecosystems function. Emphasis is on interactions affecting forest productivity including soil nutrient cycles, light energy, water and nutrient acquisition. Process modeling is used to illustrate effects of complex interactions on carbon budgets. Applications include effects of environmental stress and disturbance such as forest management, fire, pests and global climate change. Builds from general ecology (For 221/REM 221) by exploring processes controlling forest production, and establishes a foundation to address forest management questions in For 324 and For 424. Two lec and one 4-hr lab a week, including several field trips.
Prereq: Soil 205; and Math 143 or Math 160, and Phys 100/100L or Phys 111/111L, and For 221 or REM 221
For 373 Forestry Sampling Methods (2 cr)
Principles and practice of natural resource inventory, forest sampling and data analysis techniques, LIDAR, forest growth, and quantitative decision support. Lab analysis examples and use of Excel and statistical packages are integrated into lectures. (Fall only)
For 375 Introduction to Spatial Analysis for Natural Resource Management (3 cr)
Methods and techniques for obtaining quantitative and qualitative geospatial information from aerial and satellite images, maps, and the Global Positioning System for input into geographic information systems. Analysis of geospatial data for mapping, monitoring and planning associated with all aspects of natural resource management. Two lec and one 2-hr lab a wk.
Prereq: College Algebra
For 398 (s) Renewable Natural Resources Internship (cr arr)
Supervised field experience with an appropriate public or private agency. Reqd for cooperative education students. Graded P/F.
Prereq: Permission of department
For 400 (s) Seminar (cr arr)
For 403 (s) Workshop (cr arr)
For 404 (s) Special Topics (cr arr)
For 424 Forest Dynamics and Management (4 cr)
Integrated methods and techniques for sustainable management of forest ecosystems including, stand and disturbance dynamics, exercises in forest assessment, thinning, harvesting, silviculture prescriptions, forest modeling and communicating management guidelines. Major integrative final project required. Course includes field labs and lectures; on average 3-hrs of lectures and 2-hrs of lab per week. (Fall only)
Prereq: Senior standing and For 274, For 320, For 324 and For 330
For 425 Forest and Soil Nutrient Cycling (3 cr)
Forest nutrient management requires an understanding of biogeochemical cycles relevant to forest ecosystems including inputs of plant nutrients from the atmosphere and lithosphere, accumulation by vegetation, soil cycling, processes, and losses to the atmosphere and hydrosphere. Two 1-hr lectures and with a 3-hr lab.
For 426 Global Fire Ecology and Management (3 cr)
Credit may only be earned in For 326 or For 426, but not both. This course is only available to distance education students. Integrated fire-related ecological effects of fire on vegetation, soils, and air quality; natural and changing role of fire in forests, woodlands, shrublands and rangelands; influence of global change including climate and invasive species; fire as a management tool; application to current issues. (Fall only)
Prereq: For 221 or REM 221; and Instructor Permission
For 427 Prescribed Burning Lab (3 cr)
Planning, conducting and evaluating prescribed burns designed to accomplish natural resource management objectives. Sampling, models and analysis used in writing required fire use plan. 5 days of field trips; some on Saturdays. (Fall only)
Prereq: REM 244, and Senior standing; and Permission
Coreq: For 326
For 430 Forest Operations (3 cr)
Overview of the primary equipment and harvesting systems used in modern forest operations, including field design, layout, and administration of timber sales, logging production and cost estimation, laws, and certification. A brief introduction to quantitative forest planning methods is also provided. There are 2-3 early morning trips and one Saturday field lab (Fall only)
Prereq: Phys 100/100L or Phys 111/111L
Prereq or Coreq: Math 144
For 431 Low Volume Forest Roads (2 cr)
Design and field layout of access roads for forest management, through a combination of field labs and use of modern, GIS-based forest road engineering software. Field study includes design of at least one current industry or agency forest road design project. There are 2-3 early morning trips and one Saturday field lab. (Fall, Alt/yrs)
Prereq or Coreq: Math 144
Coreq: For 430 or Permission
For 433 Fire and Fuel Modeling (2 cr)
Learn to use and critically evaluate spatial fire behavior prediction systems, with attention to assumptions, uncertainty, sensitivity, and probability analysis. Topics include fuels classification systems, scale considerations, thematic mapping, and GIS overlay analysis, and how to access on-line geospatial data and decision-support tools. Read and discuss primarily literature on quantitative spatial analysis in fire science, engage in hands-on laboratory exercises, and prepare written reports comparing management alternatives with regards to fire behavior, fire effects, and ecological departure.
Prereq: For 375, Geog 385, or Permission
Coreq: For 450
For J435/J535 Remote Sensing of Fire (3 cr)
The course describes the state of the art algorithms and methods used for mapping and characterizing fire from satellite observations. The course will link the physical aspects of fire on the ground with the quantities that can be observed from remote sensing, and present an overview of the different aspects of environmental fire monitoring. The course will be accompanied by weekly lab sessions focused on the processing of satellite data from sensors used operationally for fire monitoring. This course assumes that you are familiar with the fundamental concepts of mathematics and physics, understand basic remote sensing techniques, and can use maps and GIS data layers. For graduate credit, additional literature review and a class project including evaluation of new, advanced technologies is required. (Spring)
Prereq: For 375 or Permission
For 436 Cable Systems (2 cr)
Overview of the major cable logging systems. Trigonometry and physical mechanics of cable systems, including analysis of forces, tensions, and payload capacity. Field layout and analysis of cable corridors using small yarders on the UI Experimental Forest using integrated field planning and GIS-based cable system design software. There are 2-3 early morning trips and one Saturday field lab. (Fall, Alt/yrs)
Prereq or Coreq: Math 144
Coreq: For 430 or Permission
For 444 Prescribed Fire For Ecologically-Based Management (2-3 cr)
Learn about prescribed burning in support of ecologically-based management through reading, discussion and participating in hands-on service learning, planning, conducting and monitoring prescribed burns, reading and discussing local ecology and management, working collaboratively, and developing skills in fire management. Course requires travel as well as pre, during and post-travel writing, discussion and presentations.
Prereq: REM 244 and Junior Standing; or Instructor Permission.
For 450 Fire Behavior (2 cr)
Understand the physical and chemical processes controlling combustion and fire behavior. Gain in-depth knowledge of commonly-used, point-scale fire behavior models and tools, including key assumptions and limitations. Critically review and discuss scientific literature, current topics, and case studies. Lab sessions include designing and undertaking small-scale fire behavior experiments, developing simple quantitative models, and a field trip.
Prereq: For 326; and Phys 100/100L or Phys 111/111L
Coreq: For 433
For 451 Fuels Inventory and Management (3 cr)
Tools, quantitative analysis, and approaches for inventory and management of fuels for wildland fires over large, diverse areas in forests, woodlands, shrubland, and grasslands. Critically review and synthesize relevant scientific literature.
Prereq: For 375, REM 244 and For 274 or REM 411
For J454/J554 Air Quality and Smoke Management (3 cr)
Assessment of the controls and drivers of emission processes and impacts on air quality from agricultural, prescribed, and wildfires. Overview of the combustion and emission process, how these emissions impact the ‘quality of air’, and what models exist to monitor the emission. Other topics to include: recent EPA and other guidelines for smoke management planning, attainment issues, collaborative process for implementing smoke management plans. Additional work required for graduate credit.
Prereq: For 326
For 462 Watershed Science and Management (3 cr)
Influence of land management practices on hydrologic processes, water quality, and riparian habitat w/emphasis on wildland watersheds. One day field trip. (Fall only)
Prereq: Math 143; and Phys 100 or Phys 111, or high school equivalent.
For 468 Forest and Plant Pathology (2 cr)
A survey of plant diseases. Emphasis on forest trees and other woody plants. Organisms that cause diseases. Strategies to minimize negative effects. Symbiotic roles of microbes in plants. Two hours of lecture, and two hours of lab per week, in addition to multiple field trips (as weather allows) to observe diseases and their effects. (Spring only)
For 472 Remote Sensing of the Environment (4 cr)
Same as REM 472. Current airborne and satellite systems, data acquisition on ground and from remote locations, instrumentation, imagery interpretation and digital analysis, applications for natural resource science and management. Two 75-minute kectures and one two-hour lab per week. Recommended Preparation: Phys 100 or Phys 112. Cooperative: open to WSU degree-seeking students.
For 483 Senior Project Presentation (1 cr)
Same as CSS/Fish/REM/WLF 483. Reporting and presenting the senior project (thesis or internship); taken after or concurrently with 485 or 497.
For 484 Forest Policy and Administration (2 cr)
Evaluation of land and forest problems and policies in the U.S.; analysis of current conditions and policies; historical development of governmental and private agencies concerned with the administration of forest conservation program. Recommended Preparation: FOR 235.
Prereq: Junior standing
For 485 Ecology and Conservation Biology Senior Project (1-3 cr, max 3)
See WLF 485.
For 497 (s) Senior Thesis (2-4 cr, max 4)
Independently plan and conduct a thesis project; write and defend the thesis under supervision of an advisor.
Prereq: Senior standing and minimum 3.20 GPA or Permission
For 498 (s) Renewable Natural Resources Internship (cr arr)
Supervised field experience with an appropriate public or private agency. Required for cooperative education students.
Prereq: Permission of department
For 499 (s) Directed Study (cr arr)
For the individual student; conferences, library, field, or lab work.
Prereq: Senior standing, GPA 2.5, and Permission
For 500 Master's Research and Thesis (cr arr)
For 501 (s) Seminar (cr arr)
Major philosophy, management, and research problems of wildlands; presentation of individual studies on assigned topics.
Prereq: Permission
For 502 (s) Directed Study (cr arr)
For 503 (s) Workshop (cr arr)
Selected topics in the conservation and management of natural resources.
Prereq: Permission
For 504 (s) Special Topics (cr arr)
For 515 Physical Hydrology (3 cr)
A quantitative treatment of the physical processes that control water fluxes in the environment. Specific emphasis on evaporation, transpiration, snow processes and soil water flow. (Fall, Alt/yrs)
For 516 Current Literature in the Hydrologic Effects of Forest Management (1 cr)
Evaluation and discussion of how management activities affect hydrologic processes and flow regimes in forested watersheds. Seminar based on primary literature. (Spring, Alt/yrs)
For 526 Fire Ecology (3 cr)
Fire-related ecology of plant and animal species in wildlands; effects of fire occurrence and suppression on physical environment, landscapes, and processes in both natural and managed ecosystems. Two days of field trips. (Alt/yrs)
Prereq: General ecology course
For 529 Forest Ecosystem Analysis (3 cr)
Forest ecosystem processes and analysis from the leaf to the landscape scale; techniques for measuring forest ecosystem attributes; integration with forest management. Field trip required. (Fall only)
For 531 Invasion Biology (3 cr)
An introduction to the biology of invasive species, covering plants, animals, and microbial invasives. The course will review relevant readings from the primary literature, especially those dealing with the current state of our knowledge of invasives, their ecology, control, and implications for public policy. (Spring only)
Prereq: Basic introductory genetics class and ecology
For 535 Remote Sensing of Fire (3 cr)
See For J435/J535.
For 540 Conservation Genetics (3 cr)
See WLF 540.
For 541 Stable Isotope Theory and Methods (3 cr)
Theory and practice of measuring stable isotope ratios of biologically important elements; training in the use of isotope mass spectrometers. Cooperative: open to WSU degree-seeking students. (Fall Alt/yrs)
For 542 Conservation Genetics Lab (1 cr)
For 551 Current Literature in Forest Ecology/Tree Physiology (1 cr, max arr)
Review recent articles in forest ecology and physiology journals. Students choose, critically review, and discuss the articles to develop critical-thinking skills and confidence in their knowledge of the literature. Graded P/F.
For 552 Current Literature in Remote Sensing (1 cr, max arr)
Review recent articles in remote sensing journals. Students choose, critically review, and discuss the articles to develop critical-thinking skills and confidence in their knowledge of the literature. Graded P/F.
For J454/J554 Air Quality and Smoke Management (3 cr)
See For J454/J554.
For 555 Current Topics: Regeneration/Restoration (1 cr, max arr)
Review recent articles pertaining to natural and artificial regeneration of native plants, including nursery production, restoration practices, and post-disturbance treatments. Students choose, critically review, and discuss the articles to develop critical-thinking skills and confidence in their knowledge of the literature. Graded P/F. Recommended Preparation: For 324, For 424, and For 551.
For 556 Phylogenetics Reading Group (1 cr, max arr)
Review recent articles in phylogenetics and systematics journals. Students choose, critically review, and discuss the articles to develop critical-thinking skills and confidence in their knowledge of the literature. Graded P/F.
For 570 Advanced Remote Sensing Measurement Methods (3 cr)
Development of remote sensing methods to measure vegetation attributes from individual trees, to stands, to regional scales. Includes, LIDAR and hyperspectral data, non-traditional accuracy assessment, land-use/land-cover change assessment, linear and non-linear mixture models, autocorrelation, time series analysis, and application of object-orientated approaches. (Spring, alt/yrs)
For 572 Spatial and Biophysical Modeling (3 cr)
Development of concepts, techniques, and methods for the fusion of remote sensing, GIS and biogeochemical modeling techniques for analyzing energy and material pathways and cycles; review latest methods for temporal and spatial scaling of datasets and models to develop and test hypotheses for understanding forest ecosystem structure and function.
For 584 Natural Resource Policy Development (3 cr)
The development of natural resource policy with emphasis on the policy process at the federal level in the U.S.; the role of and interrelationships between staff, committees, agencies and elected officials; the relationship of science and scientists with policy and politicians in the development of natural resource policy, including preparation of testimony related to natural resource science and policy issues; implementation of policy within the natural resource agencies and judicial interpretation of major natural resource policies in the U.S.
Prereq: Undergraduate course in natural resource policy or political science or Permission
For 585 Natural Resources Policy Analysis (2 cr)
Theories of policy analysis, natural resource policy formulation, and applications for developing policy-relevant information. (Alt/yrs)
Prereq: Undergraduate course in natural resource policy or political science or Permission
For 597 (s) Practicum (cr arr)
For 598 (s) Internship (cr arr)
For 599 (s) Non-thesis Master's Research (cr arr)
Research not directly related to a thesis or dissertation.
Prereq: Permission
For 600 Doctoral Research and Dissertation (cr arr)
Prereq: Admission to the doctoral program in "natural resources" and Permission of department