Course Description
Plant processes which mediate biogeochemical cycling on land. Includes survey of global element cycling, functions of essential elements, element acquisition, translocation and loss by plants, litter decomposition, and methods of estimating standing stocks of elements in and transfer rates of elements between ecosystem components.
Athena Title
Terrestrial Biogeochem Cycling
Prerequisite
ECOL 3500-3500L or STAT 4210 or STAT 4220
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
A)develop conceptual framework for understanding terrestrial biogeochemistry of the earth B)learn how to quantify selected biogeochemical processes through field and laboratory work and to synthesize findings into scientific journal paper. C)Develop critical reading skills for evaluating current biogeochemistry literature. D)Develop future research projects.
Topical Outline
Field and Laboratory outline: a)Install water sampling equipment and collect samples at UGA Whitehall forest b)Sample vegetation and soils at UGA Whitehall forest c)Analyzed water, soil and vegetation samples for mass and nutrients in laboratory d)Archive data e)Construct nutrient budgets for Carbon, Nitrogen, Calcium and Phosphorus for UGA Whitehall forest f)Synthesize results into a technical paper comparing Biogeochemistry of UGA Whitehall forest with other forests in Eastern North America Reading and discussing current literature: a)Student lead discussions of 2 recent papers relating to lecture topic of that week b)Identify significant gaps in our understanding of BioGeochemistry c)Identify potential future challenges in BioGeochemistry Develop Future Research projects – or what have they learned in this class that can help them deal the biogeochemical portions of their theses or dissertations? How will activities be evaluated: Lectures will be evaluated with 2 mid term exams and a final exam. Laboratory and field work will be evaluated by the quality of the written technical synthesis paper.