Wetlands Ecology

Catalog description

This course will provide an overview of the wetlands communities within the New England region. The Fish and Wildlife Services wetlands classification scheme (Cowardin, et. al.) will be the foundation for this review. Students will have an opportunity not only to learn about typical wetland types in New England, but also gain an understanding of the underlying abiotic factors that influence the observed biotic community structure. An introduction to wetlands hydrology, soils and vegetation analysis will be introduced to allow students to begin the process of building a foundation of knowledge and skills in order to conduct jurisdictional wetlands delineation, which is a necessary skill for certification as wetlands scientists. In addition, students will be introduced to the wetlands evaluation procedures developed to assess the functional values of wetlands in the context of the greater watershed.