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FOR 320 Dendrology
Syllabus/Schedule

FOR 320  3 credits  (MW 2:30-5:20)
Spring 2006
Instructor: Steve Brunsfeld                                                    TA: Todd Ott, CNR 217B
Office/Phone: CNR 203C / 885-7211, sbruns@uidaho.edu
Office Hours: anytime by appointment

 COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 1) Gain familiarity with the major species of North American trees, including general features of their systematics, morphology, geography, ecology, and various uses and values.

 2) Develop a solid understanding of plant systematics and evolution, and how taxonomic treatments attempt to classify plant diversity.

 3) Build concepts of the genera and families of temperate trees, which will aid in the recognition of species not covered in the course.

 4) Examine how woody plants are assembled into the major forest types of North America.

TEXT:   "Textbook of Dendrology" 9th Ed.  Hardin et al. 2001.  Other reference books and papers may be made available.

ORGANIZATION:  Lecture and lab portions of the course will not be strictly separated as indicated in the time schedule.  Commonly, short lectures about species will alternate with viewing slides, and examining fresh of dried specimens. Campus field trips will occur periodically, generally during the last hour.  One all-day field trip will be taken to the Lewiston valley near the end of the course.  All students must attend this field trip; quizzes will take place during the trip.

LIBRARY PROJECT:  You will be expected to research some very specific aspect of dendrology in the library.  You will hand in a numbered bibliography (at least 10 references) and a half-page abstract that summarizes what your literature says about the topic.  Your title will define your topic.  Cite your references in the body of the abstract, referring to the references by number.  The bibliography should be in the format of the American Journal of Botany, and should consist mostly of primary literature, i.e. journal articles.  Popular magazine articles and internet postings are unlikely to be acceptable. Due Date: May 5th.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES: Attend all classes and study notes and specimens each week.  Look at trees around town and campus. Ask questions about anything that is unclear. Cheating will not be tolerated, and will result in a zero for the test, quiz or assignment. No “live” cell phones or hats in class.    You must bring a hand lens to every class. 

EVALUATION:  Your knowledge will be sampled by the following:

I will drop your lowest quiz for each half of the course, but there will be no make-ups. Grades will follow the University Scale (90% or > = "A", etc.) and will be curved upward if necessary.

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Outline of Major Topics:

1) Introduction, overview of dendrology, course objectives, grading, etc.

2) Concepts to be woven throughout course: evolution, systematics (phylogeny, evolutionary patterns and processes), ecology, taxonomy, nomenclature, plant kingdom, economic values

3) Gymnosperms -69 species (see handout) –Phylogenetic, ecologic relationships, products, et al.

4) Angiosperms -74 species (see handout) --    “                         “              “                   “ 

5) Forests of North America – distribution, composition, historical, and successional change

Approximate Timetable:  Everyone must take exams on scheduled days—no exceptions

January

11                Introductory comments, course information

16                MLK-ID Human Rights Day (No Class)

18                Plant classification, genetics, evolution, species concepts, Gymnosperms

23-30            Gymnosperms

February

1-13             Gymnosperms, evolutionary processes, speciation

15                Gymnosperms, systematics exam

20                    Presidents Day (No class)

22, 27           Gymnosperms, phylogenetic reconstruction 

March

1,6               Finish gymnosperms

8                      Midterm test (Gymnosperms, et al.)

13,15              Spring Break!

20,22,27,29    Angiosperms

April

3-26             Angiosperms

May

1                      Field Trip (8:30AM - 5:00 PM)

3                  Forest Types

Final:           WEDNESDAY, May 10^th     3:30-5:30 PM