ES 540: Natural Resource Inventory Methods
Synonym:66379 (for web registration)
Meeting Schedule:Fridays 1/22 - 5/7 (8:00AM-10:59AM)
Restricted to SP09, Fall 09 & SP 10 CB students from December 8 – 16; open to all ES students on December 17.
This course focuses on methods used to inventory and describe natural vegetated communities and their wildlife inhabitants. An NRI on a particular tract of land begins the process of data acquisition that eventually will be used in management decisions and to set conservation priorities. Students will review the basics of developing an NRI proposal, base mapping, and map & compass use, and then conduct field sampling of woody plants and methods of detecting fur-bearers, amphibians, and birds. We will take a preliminary look at those elements that comprise a well-rounded inventory and approach it from an ecological perspective. Assessments will be derived from quantitative data in order to provide realistic guidance for natural resource management on private and public lands. *Functional knowledge of Excel software is required. Prerequisite: Community Ecology of the NE Landscape, ESF 550.