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Wetlands: Ecology, Hydrology, Restoration
Course Outline
Course Logistics:
Office hours: By appt. before and after class.
Course Texts:
Wetlands, 3rd Ed. W.J.Mitsch and J.G. Gosselink, John Wiley, 2000
Plus chapters from specialized texts such as:
Limnology, 2nd Ed. A. J. Horne and C.R. Goldman, McGraw Hill, 1994
Creating fresh water wetlands, D., CRC Press, 1997
Hydrology and management of watersheds, K. N. Brooks, Iowa State University Press, 1997
Wetlands: Characteristics and boundaries, Nat Res Council, Nat Acad.Press, 1995
Integrated watershed management in the global ecosystem, R. Lal (ed),CRC Press, 2000
Everglades: the ecosystem and its restoration, S.M. Davis, J. C Ogden, St. Lucie Press, 1994
Journal articles will be placed on the Brandeis University electronic reserve
system, accesible to all students in the course. These will include articles from
journals such as, Conservation
Biology; Wetlands; Ecological Applications; Journal of Environmental Quality
Administrator: Roger Stern, Exec. Dtr., Marine Studies Consortium; Phone/FAX: 781-444-3643; Email: rstern at princeton.edu
For Possible Cancellations (due to inclement weather):
check Weather Alert.
Cancellations will also be aired on WCVB Channel 5 and
announced by voice message at 781-444-3643
Course Overview:
Course topics include:
Vital role of wetlands in the hydrology and ecology
of global landscapes.
Function of inland and coastal marshes, swamps and
bogs in water and nutrient cycles, and in support of biodiversity, from
microbes to vertebrates. Biological links between wetlands and human activities,
such as agriculture, coastal development, and fisheries. Legal framework for the
protection and restoration of endangered wetlands.
Prerequisites: One year of introductory science (geology or chemistry or biology
or physics or engineering or economics); and two semesters of upper level
(elective) science courses. Offerred Fall Semesters, annually.
Evaluation:
There will be two midterm examinations, one on the
hydrology, and the second on the ecology of wetlands (30% of final grade each).
A final project, based on a pre-approved topic, will be required as a 15-page
term paper as well as an oral class presentation (40% of final grade).
Textbooks and Scientific Literature:
CLASS SCHEDULE
Week 1
Wetlands definitions, functions, values, history
Week 2
Wetlands classification & categories
Week 3
Field trip
Week 4
Wetlands hydrology
Week 5
Wetland soils
Week 6
First midterm examination
Wetland ecosystems - primary production, nutrient fluxes. Aquatic plant biodiversity
Week 7
Wetland ecosystems - consumer food webs. Aquatic animal biodiversity
Week 8
Ecology of coastal and estuarine wetlands. Marine biodiversity, the
fisheries connection
Week 9
Ecology of marshes, swamps, and bogs. Flood plain functions
Week 10
Second midterm examination
Regulations and the management of wetlands
Week 11
Wetland restoration and construction
Week 12
Constructed wetlands in irrigation and for waste water management.
Special problems of tropical wetlands
Week 13
Global role of wetlands in the supply and quality of fresh
water and in economic development. Economic valuation of ecoligical services.
Presentation of student research reports
Week 14
Restoration of the Florida Everglades - a case history.
Presentation of student research reports