Plant Biology: Alpine Plant Ecology

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Instructor will email students about meeting location Required prerequisite: BCOR 2100 or NR 2030 Encouraged prerequisite: PBIO 2040 Plant Physiology Open to Degree and PACE Students Special Topics courses cannot carry CC designations

This is an upper-level undergraduate seminar course focusing on the unique biodiversity and adaptations of plant species that grow at high elevations above the treeline. This course will explore the ecology of the alpine environment, including the physical and climatic factors that drive the formation of high-altitude treelines, the physiological adaptations plants have evolved to persist under the short growing seasons and environmental stressors at high elevation, the importance of species interactions in alpine plant communities, and the processes shaping the assembly and maintenance of plant biodiversity in the alpine. These topics will be explored within the context of climate change and conservation. The emphasis will be on northeastern alpine plant communities in New England and Canada as a case study, with biogeographic comparison to alpine zones in other mountainous regions throughout the world.

The learning environment will consist of readings and discussion from the primary literature, supplemented with lecture on specific topics, guest presenters from the conservation community, and independent project work as a capstone.

Students will be evaluated on leading and participating in class discussions, weekly quizzes, short homework assignments, and a final project presentation and paper.