Advanced ecology course that examines the interplay between aquatic organisms and their physical, chemical, and biological environment, with an emphasis on freshwater lakes and streams. Students will learn basic concepts, ecological theory, methods in limnology, and apply them to understand the impacts of human activities on aquatic ecosystems.

Water is one of the basic elements needed for life systems to exist and survive. While it is abundant in supply, it is not always available where it is needed. This course will cover concepts and issues related to managing water resources through regional and global ecosystem perspectives.

Invasion ecology explores the introduction, establishment, and impact stages of non-native, invasive species. We will consider how invasions differ across all taxonomic groups, from plants to fish to pathogens.

Forests provide tremendous public benefits. This course will teach methods for mapping forest resources and quantifying the forest species and structure that provide these many benefits, with the goal of informing forest conservation decisions. The course will also include methods for determining threats to forests, including invasive plants, exotic insects, and deer over populations. Finally, the course will include techniques for monitoring conservation restrictions.

Field based instruction in plant identification - chiefly of trees and shrubs native to New England. Ecological requirements of species important for timber, wildlife and/or biodiversity considerations. Field trips to state and University forests/wildlife management areas to learn to recognize plants where they grow naturally on the landscape.

Use of community and urban forests to meet multiple objectives. Summary of forest history, policies, and programs. Review of traditional and contemporary forest management principles and practices. Case examples, site visits, and reports. Interactions with practitioners and landowners. Emphasis on community and urban forest issues.

Practice in using verbal communication skills in a wide variety of applied situations. Emphasis on participation in realistic exercises, such as group discussion, debate, public speaking on a technical subject, and group presentations.

Fish are a diverse and important group of organisms that occupy the aquatic ecosystems of our planet. This course will provide students with basic knowledge of how to identify fish, as well as provide hands-on opportunities to learn common sampling techniques for fish in local freshwater environments. We will also be covering some basic methods used to examine fish populations and communities. Because of the limited enrollment in this course, we hope that each student will be motivated to try various sampling techniques and learn to handle fish.

Hydrologic structure and function of forest, wetland, and agricultural ecosystems. Changes in water flow and quality associated with land and resource use. Management approaches to prevent or reverse adverse environmental impacts.

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