FORESTRY 510

COURSE TITLE: Advanced Silviculture

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. John W. Groninger

Prerequisite:

Undergraduate courses in forest ecology and silviculture or consent of the instructor.

Catalog Description

Current and emerging silvicultural issues and their underlying biological principles are discussed.
Experimental methodologies and their application to forest management problems are critiqued.  Prerequisite: Undergraduate courses in forest ecology and silviculture or consent of the instructor.

Course objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will...
1.  Appreciate the current understanding of biotic factors underlying forest management decisions
2. Understand experimental methodology used to measure forest productivity and underlying mechanisms.
3. Critically evaluate reported forest science research
4. Assess the limits of applicability among forest types


Topics and time allocation

Topic           % time

A. Environmental stresses: role in management      25
  1. Drought stress
  2. Flooding/soil aeration/compaction
  3. Managing forests in a high CO₂ world

B. Linking physiology to wood production      15
  1. Process models in management
  2. Wood quality vs. quantity; genetics and environment

C. Competition, stand dynamics and productivity     25
  1. Role and assessment of competition
  2. Current vegetation management technology
  3. Herbicide fate

D. Managing old growth characteristics      10
  1. Defining old growth
  2. Stand dynamics approach to developing old growth structure

E. Biodiversity         15
  1. Assessment
  2. Management Strategies

F. Trees and bioremediation        10
  1. Concepts
  2. Early case studies


Text

Landsberg, J. J. and S. T. Gower. 1997. Applications of physiological ecology to forest management.  Academic, New York, p. 354.

various assigned readings


Grading

Grades will be determined on the basis of performance on an in-class mid-term exam (20%), take-home final exam (20%), leading a critique of journal articles (25%),  preparation and presentation of a research paper (20%), and class participation (15%).

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