Fall 2006, Mon, Wed 3:10-4:25, Wilson 1147
Biology 524 (3 CR) - Frontiers in Landscape Ecology
Instructor: Dr. Andrew J. Hansen, 305A Lewis Hall, Telephone 994-6046,
email hansen@montana.edu, Office Hours Tues 1:30-3:00 pm, Wed 1:30-3:00 pm, or by appt.
Course Description: A mark of excellence in science is publishing in scientific journals. In this class, students and the instructor will jointly develop for publication a manuscript that synthesizes an important question in landscape ecology. The class will then review and synthesize current knowledge on the topic through discussion of key papers. The class will prepare an outline for the publication, write and review drafts of each section of the paper, and finally format the paper for submission to a scientific journal. The goal of the course is to give students experience in the key skill in science -- publication and to advance knowledge on an important topic.
Course Objectives:
1) Synthesize current knowledge on an important topic in landscape ecology;
2) Gain experience in collaborative research by organizing the synthesis into a publishable manuscript;
3) Publish an important paper in ecology that can be listed on student's resumes.
Class Format: Class periods will be a mixture of lectures, students leading discussion of readings, writing sessions, and discussion/evaluation of written drafts.
Grading: Criteria for grading are: Synthesis of readings, participation in class discussions, quality of sections written, effort contributed to the overall writing project.
Authorship: Order of authorship will be determined by the class based on standard scientific criteria.
Internet Resources: We will post each week’s readings and writing drafts on the Landscape Biodiversity Lab FTP site. The directory is: /export/home1/guest/biol524 . Obtain ws_ftple by using a machine on the MSU network, hitting start, run, and typing in: \\topaz\public\, return, then click to Other-software\ftp
1) Install the wsftp software on your hard drive.
2) Open ws_ftple
3) Click connect to connect to a remote server
4) Enter the server name for profile name: lbl3.msu.montana.edu
5) Enter for host name/address: lbl3.msu.montana.edu
6) Enter for host type (machine usually defaults to this): UNIX (standard)
7) Enter for User ID: guest
8) Enter for password: gu4lbl3!
9) Click OK
10) You should be connected. You will see your local drives (on your computer) on the left and the remote server (ftp site folders) drives on the right.
11) Go to wherever you want to get a file on your local drives and select the file.
12) Go to wherever you want to put the file on the server on the left (/export/home1/guest/biol524) click on the small arrows between the local and server windows to copy the files back or forth.
Products of Previous Classes:
Hansen, A.J., R. Knight, J. Marzluff, S. Powell, K. Brown, P. Hernandez, and K. Jones. 2005. Effects of exurban development on biodiversity: Patterns, Mechanisms, Research Needs. Ecological Applications 15(6):1893-1905.
Jones, D. A., K. Bly-Honness, J. I. Paugh, A. J. Hansen, K. Doherty, J. P. Verschuyl, R. Carle, and S. J. Story. In Review. A framework for monitoring land use and land cover change around national parks. Natural Areas Journal.
Possible Review Topics:
Spatial variation in fragmentation effects
Forest fragmentation is known to sometimes strongly influence ecosystem function and biodiversity. However, studies have shown mixed results on fragmentation impacts, with some ecosystems showing little response to fragmention. This paper would explore general principles that would allow for the prediction of which ecosystems are most sensitive to forest fragmentation. For example the Biomass Accumulation Hypothesis asserts that dense vegetation influences several ecosystem properties (like microclimate) and that systems with the biophysical properties to accumulate high biomass are most likely to be sensitive to forest fragmentation. We would do a metaanalysis of many studies of forest fragmentation effects conducted across a gradient of biomass accumulation.
Effects of ecosystem energy on invasion rates by weeds
Available energy in the form of heat and ecological productivity is know to strongly influence biodiversity and abundances of individual species. We hypothesize that weeds are most likely to invade ecosystems that are high in energy (allowing fast population growth of weeds) and have frequent disturbance (which reduces native competitive dominants). The class could do a spatial analysis of ecoregions across North America to test this hypothesis.
Conservation implications of human population density
Maintaining function of nature reserves is influenced by human density of surrounding lands. However, managing human density around reserves is seldom considered by policy makers. Beyond impact on nature reserves, we hypothesize that human density also influences human well being, with well being increasing with human density and then declining at higher densities. The human perception of well being evolves with human experience, such that increasingly degraded ecosystems are accepted by society as human density and human impact increase. Knowledge of the relationship between human well being for a given set of values and human density, policy makers can consider policies to attain desired human well being.
Scientific basis for prioritizing conservation easements
A leading conservation strategy is to acquire development rights to private lands through conservation easements. Currently, nongovernmental organizations often select lands for easements based on availability, price, and some subjective sense of conservation value. Scientific criteria could be used to prioritize private lands relative to specific conservation goals. This paper would explore reasonable conservation goals and scientific approaches for prioritizing private lands to achieve these goals.
Vulnerability of nature reserves to land use intensification of surrounding lands
Land use is intensifying around many of the worlds nature reserves reducing ecological function and biodiversity. Hansen and DeFries (in prep) have developed a list of ecological mechanisms by which such land use may influence reserve function and biodiversity. These criteria provide a basis for evaluating which types of nature reserves are most vulnerable to surrounding land use change. This paper would develop such a vulnerability rating system and apply it to nature reserves in the US.
Other
SCHEDULE
Aug 28 Course Introduction
Aug 30 Research Possibilities
Sept 4 Labor Day Holiday
Sept 6 Discuss and Select Research Topic
Sept 11 Review overview papers on Fragmentation and guest lecture by Dave McWethy
Sept 13 Review/discuss papers on edge effects, confounding factors, meta analysis
Sept 18 Outline Paper and Assign Sections
Sept 20 Outline Paper and Assign Sections
Sept 25 Library Reference Resources: discussion of outline, edge papers, biomass papers
Sept 27 Lecture on Scientific Writing: discussion of outline, edge papers, biomass papers
Oct 2 Biobliographic software: discussion of outline, edge papers, biomass papers
Oct 4 Reading, Research, Discussion
Oct 9 Write Draft 1
Oct 11 Write Draft 1
Oct 16 Write Draft 1
Oct 18 Write Draft 1
Oct 23 Write Draft 1
Oct 25 Write Draft 1
Oct 30 Write Draft 2
Nov 1 Write Draft 2
Nov 6 Write Draft 2
Nov 8 Write Draft 2
Nov 13 Write Draft 2
Nov 15 Write Draft 2
Nov 20 Peer Review, Final Tables, Figures, References
Nov 22 Peer Review, Final Tables, Figures, References
Nov 27 Final Edits, Letter to Editor, Submission
Nov 29 Final Edits, Letter to Editor, Submission
Dec 4 Schedule Overrun
Dec 6 Schedule Overrun