Course Description: Restoration Ecology (REM 440, spring semesters, 3 credits)
 

Ecological principles and management practices involved in restoring and rehabilitating wildland ecosystems after disturbance or alteration to return damaged ecosystems to a productive and stable state.

The ecological restoration of disturbed ecosystems. Fundamental principles from ecology, ecophysiology, and community ecology are used in a systems ecology approach to examine how the structure and function of damaged ecosystems can be restored – with the goal of establishing a stable and self-sustaining ecosystem. Computer-based materials are used extensively for guided independent learning in this course.
 
Recommended preparation: Introductory botany & zoology
Prerequisites: General ecology or permission.
This online course is designed for highly motivated students who can study independently. Carefully review the course guidelines before registering for this course.

 

Course summary
Restoration Ecology
Review of the ecological discipline of restoration ecology, including its development, terminology, and approaches.

 

 Critical reviews of ecological restoration projects
After a thorough review of the scientific literature, select a completed restoration project to examine for the approach, methodology, execution, and success.

 
Application of systems ecology
Systems ecology is a discipline of ecology that uses computer simulation and mathematics to model ecosystem structure and function. This allows for a mechanistic approach to the ecological restoration of disturbed ecosystems.
 		 Comprehensive proposal for restoration ecology
The key to successful restoration projects is the proposal, which should provide complete background, objective, experimental design, methodology, budget, and predicted results.

 

Review of ecological principles
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The physical environment
An introduction to the major environmental factors that affect organisms, including solar and terrestrial radiation, energy balance, temperature, water, wind, and climate. 		The response of individual organisms to their environment
Topics on how organisms interact with various environmental factors, including discussions on individual acclimation and species adaptation to the environment.
The nature of species, adaptation, and population dynamics
This section includes discussions on ecotypes, species, and populations, including the structure and growth of populations, interactions among species, and models of population fluctuations.		 Communities and ecosystems
These major sections cover the major theories of communities and succession, and the structure and function of ecosystems. Topics of discussion include community structure and distribution in nature, energy flow and global mineral cycles, a review of world ecosystems, and human influences on ecosystems.