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Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology, SPRING 2010 Botany 4745/5745, ECOL 5745, 3 credits Tu/Th 11 - 12:15, AG 329 Instructor: Dr. E. Pendall Email: Pendall@uwyo.edu, 766-6293

This advanced course examines the flows of energy and materials (carbon, water and nutrients) between organisms and their physical environment, with a focus on interactions among plants, soil and the atmosphere. The relationships between ecosystem structure and function will be studied across a range of spatial scales (local to global), using a quantitative systems approach. Prerequisite: General Ecology.

Class format will be a combination of lectures, discussion, problem solving and computer modeling exercises. Lectures will present the basic content for each week’s subject. Discussion sessions, led by a different student each time, will critically evaluate journal articles. Problem solving will start with basic unit conversions and progress to pool and flux calculations. Computer modeling exercises will begin as simple box and arrow models demonstrating concepts, and will evolve over the semester to more quantitative representations of complex ecosystems.

Readings: Required textbook, Principles of Ecosystem Ecology, by Chapin, Matson and Mooney (2002). Recent journal articles, focusing on responses of ecosystems to climate change and disturbance, will also be discussed in class.

Grading: Grading system will be A-F, and grades will be based on two exams (mid-term and final), 8 homework problem sets, and participation in classroom discussions. Students enrolled in 5745 will also be required to write a 10 to 15 page term paper, which may be in a proposal format.

Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes cheating on exams and plagiarism on reports, or helping another student do the same. For more information on the policies and philosophy of the University of Wyoming and the College of Arts and Sciences please see the document on Students and Teachers Working Together at http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/a&s/Current/default.asp.