Wetlands Ecology and Management

Instructor: Dr. Matthew J. Gray (mattjgray@utk.edu)

Phone: 974-2740 (office)

Office: 247 Ellington Plant Sciences Building

Meeting Time and Place: 8:30–12:00 and 1:30–5:00 M,Tu,W,Th,F 114 PSB or 128 PSB (alternate location)

Course Goal: To expose students to the basic principles of wetland ecology and management via class lectures and field experiences.

Required Text: Wetlands, 2000, 3^rd edition (ISBN 047129232X)

Authors: William J. Mitsch and James C. Gosselink

Course Credits: 2 credits

Course Duration: 7–18 March 2005

Tentative Schedule:

7–11 March:

Monday¹

Tuesday²

Wed¹

Thursday

Friday

Morning

Wetland Definition, Wetland Delineation

Hydrology, Nutrient Cycling

Human Impacts, Sedimentation, Values

Wetland Management

Carrying Capacity Estimation

Afternoon

Wetland Delineation, Waterfowl, Amphibian, and Wetland

Plant ID

(Finish up morning lectures)

OPEN

(Study)

Wetland Regulations

Wetland Impoundment Construction

(Finish up if necessary)

OPEN

(Study)

PRACTICUM

(Delineation & Waterfowl, Amphibian, and Plant ID)

14–18 March:

Monday

Tuesday

Wed

Thursday

Friday

Morning

EXAM (8:30−10:00)

Leave @ 10:30

Meet TN NWR Personnel, Presentation, Tour of Refuge

Meet Dr. Allan Houston (bottomland sedimentation)

Meet Dr. Rick Kaminski, MSU Presentations

Drive back to Knoxville

(7−8 hours)

Afternoon

Stay at Milan 4-H Camp

Tour of Refuge, Visit WTES,

(Stay @ Ames Plantation)

Drive to Noxubee Wildlife Refuge

Meet Noxubee Staff & Tour Refuge

¹NOTE: On Monday and Wednesday mornings we will meet in 128 PSB due to WFS 445 (Bird) Lab in 114 PSB.

²NOTE: On Tuesday, 8 March, we will meet from 8:30–10:30 pm then break for 1½ hours and reconvene at 12:00 pm (noon) to finish lecture materials.

Academic Assessment:

Weights of Academic Assessments and Grading Scale:

The exam, lab practicum, homework assignment, and participation (field trip attendance) will be weighted as follows:

● Exam: 50% (Monday, 14 March 2005 at 8:30 am)

● Lab Practicum: 30% (Friday, 11 March 2005 at 2:00 pm in 114 PSB)

● Participation: 15%

● DUD Assignment: 5% (due Monday, 14 March 2005)

Your course grade will be determined using the following scale:

Grade	Final Weighted Percent	Grade	Final Weighted Percent
A	90–100%	C	70–76%
B+	87–89%	D	60–69%
B	80–86%	F	<60%
C+	77–79%

Extra Credit:

You can positively influence your grade as much as 4.5% by volunteering for extra credit. Your volunteer work however must be related to wetlands or wetland fauna (e.g., amphibians, waterbirds). For every 8 hours of volunteer work, your final grade will be increased by 1.5% up to 4.5% (24 hours total). All volunteering must be completed by 27 April 2005. A volunteer form (see below) must be filled out by the supervising individual.

VOLUNTEER FORM

Attendance:

Attendance on the week-long field trip to west Tennessee and Mississippi will count for 15% of your final grade. Attendance at lectures is not mandatory.

Full Syllabus

Teaching Resources:

Homework Assignment

DUD Calculations (Due: Monday, 14 March 2005)

Handouts

Required Wetland Plants

Required TN Amphibians

Required Southeast Waterfowl

Recommended Readings

•What are Wetlands? Chap 2, Chap 6 (155–164, Hydric Soils), Chap 21 (754–758)

•Wetland Delineation Chap 21 (737–744)

USFWS (Cowardin) Classification System