Course Description
This five day course includes 3 days in the field making measurements on exotic invasive
plants at a range of sites from the Gallatin Valley to the Gallatin National Forest
and 2 days analyzing the data and using simulation models to explore plant invasiveness.
The focus of this course is to directly involve students with testing methodology
for monitoring the invasive potential of several exotic species in otherwise pristine
mountain environments.
This five-day course includes 4 days taking data in the field making measurements
on exotic invasive plants at a range of sites from the Gallatin Valley to the Gallatin
National Forest. We take one full-day field trip to Yellowstone National Park. Each
day starts with a 1-hour lecture introducing a subject area then the class goes to
a different field site each day to collect data. Students return to the computer lab
to analyze the data and answer questions about the observations/measurements. This
course directly involves students in monitoring plant populations by contributing
to long-term datasets and assessing the distribution, invasive potential and impact
of several non-indigenous species in otherwise pristine mountain environments.
The questions that we will examine are:
- How does one determine the local distribution of a rare species?
- Can we detect change in non-indigenous plant populations that will allow us to judge
them as invasive?
- What should be the criteria for determining if a non-indigenous plant species can
have a significant impact on a plant community?
- What should be the criteria for determining if a non-indigenous plant species can
have a significant impact on the ecosystem they inhabit?
Students will read the most current theories on what makes species invasive and what
conditions invite or detour non-indigenous plant species. At least 1/3 of the field
time will be used to discuss how these theories apply to our system.
Data analysis will place each student with a computer and include the use of Excel
and R software. Each student will analyze a different portion of the field data. Integration
of field ecology into K-12 classes will be discussed throughout the course.
Instructor(s)
Time Commitment:
40- hours per week. If you are unfamiliar with this field of study and/or method of
delivery, you may require more time. |
