WETLAND ECOLOGY (OCMB-6321 CRN 40787)(MEVS-5011 CRN 40788)(CZMT-0815 CRN 41080)
This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the ecology of wetland ecosystems. Wetlands are some of the
most important ecosystems in the earth, providing critical habitat for a large number of species and critical ecosystem
services such as water purification and nutrient cycling. Topics to be covered in the course include: wetland hydrology and
biogeochemistry, organism adaptations to living in wetlands, and wetland development, restoration, and conservation. The course
will also cover anthropogenic impacts on wetland habitats and the management of wetland ecosystems, with a particular emphasis
on our own 'backyard' wetland, the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. The course includes two mandatory Saturday fieldtrips.
LAB FEE: $75. Limited to 25 students
Meets: April 7th - May 19th, 2008
Course format
Proposed Course Schedule
The course will meet Wednesdays for the first 7 weeks of the term and includes two all-day Saturday fieldtrips. Lab fee
includes kayak/canoe rentals.
Week #
Topic & Activity
Readings from Mitsch & Gosselink (2007)
1 April 7
Introductions to wetlands and Everglades
Chapters 1 & 2
Chapter 3, pages 43-59
2 April 14
Wetland hydrology
Guest Lecture: Bill Loftus, USGS, Everglades fishes & hydrology
Chapter 4
3 April 21
Wetland biogeochemistry (soils, nutrient cycles, adaptations to anoxia &
salinity)
Guest Lecture: Tina Ugarte, U of Florida, alligators & hydrology in the Everglades
Chapters 5 & 6
Saturday field trip 1: Everglades National Park
4 April 28
Wetland ecosystem development & classification
Guest Lecture: Shawn Liston, Audubon of Florida flooded wetlands & wetland aquatic communities
Chapters 7 & 8
5 May 5
Human impacts & management, wetland values, laws & protection
Chapters 9, 11 & 14
6 May 12
Climate change, wetland creation & restoration & treatment wetlands
Chapters 10, 12 & 13
Saturday field trip 2: Kayaking/canoeing FL Bay or Turner River
(weather/mosquito-depending)
7 May 19
Final comprehensive exam
Instructor:
Dr. Jennifer Rehage
Associate Professor
Email: "Jennifer Rehage"
<rehage barney nova fred edu>
Meets: April 7th - May 19th, 2008