| Course ID: | FANR(ECOL)(GEOG) 1200. 3 hours. |
| Course Title: | Natural History of Georgia |
Course
Description: | An introduction to the science of natural history and biota of
Georgia, as well as the impacts of humans on regional and
national resources (overfishing, human-driven extinctions).
Students will gain familiarity with the geography, geology,
plants, and animals (especially vertebrates) of the
Appalachians, Piedmont, Coastal Plain, and islands of Georgia. |
| Oasis Title: | Natural History of Georgia |
Semester Course
Offered: | Offered fall and spring semester every year. |
| Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
|
| Course Objectives: | 1) The geographical features of Georgia, including land physiognomy, rivers, and biomes.
2) The theoretical underpinnings of natural history, including evolutionary, ecological, and natural resource management theory.
3) The characteristics and factors affecting common trees/forest types, birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates of Georgia.
4) Human impacts on the landscape and biodiversity, including invasive species, exploitation and overexploitation of natural resources, sustainability, ecological footprints, and climate change. |
| Topical Outline: | Georgia geology and geography, biomes (Appalachians, Piedmont, Coastal Plain, Islands, and Estuaries)
Continental drift
Human impacts on Georgia landscapes, management, and exploitation of natural resources (plants and animals)
Theoretical background for: speciation, natural selection, inter- and intraspecific competition, population and community organization, habitat selection, sexual selection, sex determination, biodiversity, prey selection, and resource harvesting/sustainability
Basic biology, ecology, and behavior of Georgia: birds, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, mammals
Physiological mechanisms: hibernation, sex change, ultra-violet reflectance, and vision
Environmental factors determining tree distributions and diversity in Georgia
Mimicry
Human uses of wild plants in Georgia
Biodiversity conservation
Ecological tourism in Georgia
Ecosystem linkages - transport of nutrients from ocean to forest and human impacts
Impacts of invasive species
Keystone species
Human-driven extinctions and the Endangered Species Act
Impacts of agri- and aquaculture on Georgia ecosystems |
| Honor Code Reference: | By taking this class you are committed to following the University's academic
honesty policy (see "A Culture of Honesty" www.uga.edu/honesty). You are
responsible for knowing these standards from the first lecture onwards. Violations
of the honor code may result in severe penalties, and ignorance is not an
acceptable excuse. Filling out an attendance slip for someone not present
constitutes academic dishonesty. |