Course Description
The plant communities of the southeastern United States, with emphasis on botanical and aesthetic characteristics, factors affecting community composition, and community dynamics.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Research paper on a selected topic and presentation to class.
Athena Title
PLNT COMM SOUTHEAST
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Objectives This field course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the botanic and aesthetic composition of representative plant communities in three major physiographic regions of the Southeast: in the Piedmont, Coastal Plain and barrier Islands, and the Southern Appalachian Mountains. We will use both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Additionally the course provides opportunties to observe community dynamics and the effects of various disturbance factors. A variety of field methods are employed, including quantitative sampling, using both quadrats and transects; field drawing and/or watercolor interpretation of field sites and specific plants; written description; and analysis/interpretation of field-observed phenomena. Sharing ideas, observations, and results of drawing exercises in an integral (and expected) activity.
Topical Outline
This course is a planned sequence of field trips for the Maymester period . Being a field course, students should be prepared for field conditions, with the following: rain gear, insect repellant, sunscreeen and drinking water. Itinerary: Course overview, Plant community concpets, Introduction to native plant communities of the Southeast, Logistical details, First field session - plant id, quantitative sampling exerices at Lake Herrick Dry-mesic Piedmont forest studies Plant identification, quantitative sampling, drawing/painting Coastal Plain week: Barrier Islands, Seminole State Park, Red Bingham State Park and Doe Run Pitcher Plant Bog - study sand ridge, mixed coastal plain hardwood forest and beech - magnolia mesic forest Greenwood Plantation, Longleaf Pine forest/savanna including the Big Woods - (a 500 acre old-growth stand with some 400 year old longleaf pines) A walk with drawing on sand ridge trail, Seminole State Park travel across south Georgia Crooked River State Park St. Mary's and Cumberland Queen Boat Landing Cumberland Island, Maritime evergreen forest beach and dune complex Salt Marshes along St. Mary's River Okefenokee Swamp, hike to Fire Tower Watercoloring, canoe expedition up Suwanee Canal into swamp canoe trial Sandhills at Kite, Georgia Mountains Week: North Georgia low-elevation communites and North Carolina high-elevation communities Low-evelation forests 2500-4500 elevation of the Southern Appalachians Blood Mountain trail - streamside forest to slope forest to ridge forest Watercoloring along trail Sosebee Cove Vogel State Park DeSoto Falls Trail - plant identification, water coloring North carolina Blue Ridge Parkway - Asheville, NC Mt. Mitchell State Park for high elevation 6600, forests of Fraiser Fir, Red Spruce, and associated species. Burnsville, NC Cragy Gardens Shrub Bald, Blue Ridge Parkway Black Balsam Gap Grassy Bald in Shining Rock Wilderness area Heggie's granite outcrop at Appling, Georgia watercoloring, plant identification return to Athens