1ECOLOGICAL AND LANDSCAPE IMPACTS OF RECENT CLIMATE CHANGE IN THEROCKY MOUNTAINSGEOGRAPHY 4430 (SECTION 001) SPRING SEMESTER 2009Th 12:30-3:20, Guggenheim 201eInstructor: Thomas T. VeblenOffice hours: Th 3:20-4:00 or by appointment (Email: [email protected])No required text.Course ContentThis seminar/critical thinking class will examine impacts of recent climate change on RockyMountain ecosystems and landscapes. This is a broadly conceived class in physical geographybut with a major emphasis on forest dynamics and biogeographical change. We will discusscurrent and future impacts of climate change from the perspective of historical ecology anddisturbance ecology. Although the emphasis of the class will be on physical geographyperspectives on landscape change related to climate variation, we will also consider the linkageof natural science research to policy and decision making.The course will examine the paradigm of ecosystem-based management in the context ofclimate variation. Thus, we will explore how the paradigm of ecosystem-based management isbeing challenged and modified to accommodate the increasingly recognized importance ofclimate impacts on ecosystems in the Rocky Mountain region. The focus will be on terrestrialplant communities but topics will also include aquatic ecosystems and wildlife populations. Some of the themes included in the course are: forest restoration, historical range of variabilityof forest ecosystems, bark beetle outbreaks, drought and tree mortality, fire hazard and firehazard mitigation (especially in the wildland-urban interface), and vegetation management in thecontext of climatic variability.As this is a critical thinking course, students will be expected to critically evaluate literaturedealing with environmental change. The first two-thirds of the course will be a combination oflectures and discussions. During the final third of the course, students will present results oftheir own research projects. Most of the lectures will deal with the basic concepts ofecosystem-based management, methods for conducting historical-ecological studies, a broadoverview of past and present environments of the Rocky Mountain region, and selected casestudies. An important goal of the case studies is to provide a research perspective on thecomplexities and uncertainties that surround most issues of ecosystem-based resourcemanagement.Pre-requisite and level of the classI assume that most students taking this class are seniors majoring in Geography orEnvironmental Studies. All students taking this class must have taken introductory physicalgeography (climate, soils, landforms, and vegetation) or have an equivalent background fromtaking introductory classes in earth sciences and ecology.2Class expectations and grading: For grading purposes there is a total of 100 points, allocated as follows: written term paper (40points), oral presentation of term project (10 points), mid-term exam (30 points), brief reviewsand other assignments (10 points ), and attendance (10 points).All students are expected to read all the reading assignments for each session and be preparedto discuss them in a thoughtful and critical manner. During the first two-thirds of the semester,each class meeting will be a combination of lecture and discussion. Normally I will lecture forthe first 75 minutes, and then the second half of the class meeting will be devoted to adiscussion of assigned articles. I will assign students to lead discussions of articles, and youwill be graded on these assignments.You are expected to attend class regularly, and an attendance roll will be taken before eachclass. You are allowed to miss two classes during the semester without penalty. If you missmore than two classes, the number of points allotted for attendance will be reduced by threepoints for each additional miss. If you miss more than 6 classes (i.e. 6 weeks) you will beassigned a grade of “F” in the course. I will not penalize you for missing classes for medicalreasons as long as you provide appropriate documentation.Each student will complete a research project to be presented both orally (30 minute summaryand discussion) and as a term paper. Each student will also write brief reviews (< 200 wordsper review) of the other students’ oral presentations of their research projects. These reviewsshould summarize the main findings of the project and provide constructive criticisms. Thereviews can be kept in the form of a journal or notebook and must be turned in at the final class(April 30).The term paper should not exceed 15 pages (double spaced, 10 to 12 point font) not includingbibliography, tables and figures. Details of the structure and the style will be discussed in class. Most of the grade in this course depends on the research project, and it is important to getstarted with the research as earlier as possible in the semester. To help keep you on schedulethere will be two preliminary assignments:Brief description of the research problem/question (< 250 words)--- due Feb. 5.Outline of the paper (including 8 to 15 citations) --- due Feb. 26Grades will be determined as follows: Attendance 10 Assignments, reviews, class journal 10 Mid-term exam (covering readings and lectures) 30 Oral presentation of research project 10 Written term paper (due in class April 28) 403Class ScheduleDate TopicJan. 15 Course IntroductionJan. 22 Concepts and Methods of Ecosystem-Based Resource ManagementJan. 29 The Rocky Mountains: Climate Change–Past, Present, FutureFeb. 5 Climate Impacts: WildfireFeb. 12 Climate Impacts: Bark Beetle Outbreaks and Other Forest Insect PestsFeb. 19 Climate Impacts: Tree Mortality and Implications for Carbon Release/StorageFeb. 26 Policy Responses: Mitigation and Adaptation (1)Mar. 5 Policy Responses: Mitigation and Adaptation (2) and Mid-term examMar. 12 Workshop on oral presentations and writing papersMar. 19 Case Study: Mountain Pine Beetle Spread and Forest Management (T. Chapman)Mar. 26 Spring breakApril 2-30 Student